Gepants
There is an enormous need to overcome the bias we have all inherited that suggests migraine patients are somehow responsible for their disorder - Christopher Gottschalk MD
image by: Rob Oo
HWN Suggests
New drugs that block a brain chemical are game changers for some migraine sufferers
Migraines involve a series of events in the brain that is still not fully understood, but involves activation of the trigeminal nerve and release of a peptide called CGRP, causing pain in the head, face and jaw, plus other symptoms. Researchers have devised three new approaches that help some patients. All block the action of CGRP...
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New Generation Gepants: Migraine Acute and Preventive Medications
The calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP) pathway has shown its importance in migraine pathophysiology and specific medications targeting this have become available. The first-generation CGRP receptor antagonists or gepants, have undergone clinical trials but their development was stopped because of hepatotoxicity. The new generation of gepants, however, are efficacious, safe, and well tolerated as per recent clinical trials.
Articles of Interest
A new generation of headache drugs
Monoclonal antibodies and small-molecule antagonists that target CGRP or its receptor are already having a big impact on migraine. But they have the potential to do so much more.
Comparison of New Pharmacologic Agents With Triptans for Treatment of Migraine
New drug discovery programs shifted the focus to the development of 2 classes of drugs: ditans, a group of antimigraine drugs targeting 5-hydroxytryptamine1F (5-HT1F) receptors, and gepants, a group of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonists.
Could Newer Migraine Drugs Bring You Relief?
After decades of limited options, migraine sufferers now have more choices.
How Gepants and Ditans Complement Existing Therapies
Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a protein that carries pain signals along nerves that are involved in generating the headache pain associated with migraine. Gepants work to block CGRP from attaching to its receptor and initiating those pain signals.
New migraine drug: A neurologist explains how it works
The newly approved medication Aimovig is largely designed as an antibody against CGRP itself and involves once-a-month injections under the skin using self-injectors with a hidden needle. Like any injectable medication, it can cause skin reaction. In clinical trials, that occurred in only 5 to 6 percent of participants.
New Migraine Medications: Oral Gepants, Ditan Tablet, and More
Small molecule CGRP receptor antagonists may be utilized as migraine abortives or preventive. Plus, a look at the new intravenous CGRP inhibitor and the abortive ditan tablet.
Therapeutic novelties in migraine: new drugs, new hope?
The development of ditans, gepants and anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of migraine is one of the greatest advances in the migraine field. Lasmiditan, rimegepant and ubrogepant will extend our therapeutic armamentarium for managing acute migraine attacks when triptans are not effective or contraindicated due to cardiovascular disorders.
What are the new drugs for the treatment of migraines?
The newest drugs for the acute treatment of migraine are Nurtec ODT (rimegepant) and Ubrelvy (ubrogepant), both orally-administered calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonists (gepants).
Resources
Emgality
If you’re only treating migraine after it starts, you may want to think about a preventive treatment. Emgality can cut monthly migraine days in half.
StatPearls
Among the wave of new treatment classes, devices and medicines currently in development are ditans and gepants. Learn more about how these breakthrough treatments are different, how well they work...
