Likelihood of response with subsequent dosing for patients with migraine and initial suboptimal response with eptinezumab: A post hoc analysis of two placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a multivariable model assessing factors predicting a second-dose response to eptinezumab treatment over weeks 13-24 in patients with migraine initially reporting a suboptimal response over weeks 1-12. BACKGROUND: Eptinezumab is a monoclonal antibody used for migraine prevention, administered every 12 weeks. In the PROMISE-1 and PROMISE-2 studies, the first-dose response to eptinezumab treatment (≥50% monthly migraine day [MMD] reduction over weeks 1-12) occurred in ~50-60% of patients with episodic (EM) and chronic migraine (CM), respectively. METHODS: This post hoc analysis included patients with suboptimal first-dose response (<50% MMD reduction over weeks 1-12) with EM and CM, with patient-reported outcome data at weeks 12 and 24. Eptinezumab 100 and 300 mg doses were pooled. RESULTS: The analysis included 416/888 patients (46.8%) from PROMISE-1 and 479/1072 patients (44.7%) from PROMISE-2 with suboptimal first-dose response. The proportion of suboptimal first-dose responders who were second-dose responders was 37.0% (71/192; eptinezumab) and 33.9% (42/124; placebo) in PROMISE-1 and 28.8% (79/274) and 18.5% (38/205) in PROMISE-2. Significant first-dose predictors of second-dose response were percent change in MMDs across weeks 1-12 (PROMISE-1, odds ratio [OR]: 0.97, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.95, 0.98, p = 0.0001; PROMISE-2, OR: 0.94, CI: 0.92, 0.96, p < 0.0001) and change in 6-item Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) total score (PROMISE-2 only, OR: 0.92; CI: 0.87, 0.98; p = 0.027). In PROMISE-1, the probability of second-dose response ranged from 21.7% in patients with first-dose 0% MMD change to 56.0% in patients with first-dose 45% MMD reduction. In PROMISE-2, depending on HIT-6 total score, probability of second-dose response ranged from 5.9-12.1% in patients with first-dose 0% MMD change to 54.2%-72.3% in patients with first-dose 45.0% MMD reduction. CONCLUSION: Individuals with migraine not experiencing ≥50% MMD response to their first dose of eptinezumab may benefit from a second dose.

Real-World Evidence for Control of Chronic Migraine Patients Receiving CGRP Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Added to OnabotulinumtoxinA: A Retrospective Chart Review.

INTRODUCTION: Combination use of onabotulinumtoxinA and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) has the potential to be more effective than either therapy alone for migraine prevention. METHODS: This retrospective, longitudinal chart review included adults with chronic migraine treated at one clinical site with ≥ 2 consecutive cycles of onabotulinumtoxinA and ≥ 1 month of subsequent combination treatment with CGRP mAbs. Charts at time of mAb prescription (baseline) and up to four visits ~ 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-baseline were reviewed for safety, tolerability, and outcome measures (monthly headache days [MHDs], headache intensity, and migraine-related disability [MIDAS]). RESULTS: Of 300 charts reviewed, 257 patients met eligibility criteria (mean age: 50 years; 82% women). Average headache frequency was 21.5 MHDs before initiation of onabotulinumtoxinA and 12.1 MHDs before adding CGRP mAb therapy. Prescribed mAbs were erenumab (78%), fremanezumab (6%), and galcanezumab (16%). Over the entire study, patients discontinued CGRP mAb more frequently than onabotulinumtoxinA (23 vs. 3%). Adverse events occurred in 28% of patients, most commonly constipation (9%). Compared with onabotulinumtoxinA alone (baseline), MHDs decreased significantly at all visits (mean decrease: 3.5-4.0 MHDs over ~ 6-12 months of combination treatment); 45.1% of patients had clinically meaningful improvement in migraine-related disability (≥ 5-point reduction in MIDAS score) after ~ 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: In this real-world study, combination treatment with onabotulinumtoxinA and CGRP mAbs was well tolerated, with no new safety signals identified, and was associated with additional clinically meaningful benefits. More real-world and controlled trials should be considered to further assess safety and potential benefits of combination treatment. Video abstract: Real-world data suggests that CGRP inhibitors improve onabotulinumtoxinA efficacy for chronic migraine (MP4 20,067 kb).

Botulinum toxin type A and divalproex sodium for prophylactic treatment of episodic or chronic migraine.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin type A (BoNTA; BOTOX: Allergan, Inc.) and divalproex sodium (DVPX; DEPAKOTE: Abbott Laboratories) as prophylaxis in reducing disability and impact associated with migraine. BACKGROUND: There is a need for effective, well-tolerated prophylactic treatment of migraine. DESIGN/METHODS: This was a randomized, double-blind, single-center prospective study. Fifty-nine patients received either BoNTA 100 U/placebo-DVPX bid or placebo-BoNTA/DVPX 250 mg bid. BoNTA/placebo injections were given at Day 0 and at Month 3. Patients were evaluated at Months 1, 3, 6, and 9. RESULTS: Both treatments showed significant improvements in migraine disability scores and reductions in headache days and headache index. A trend to decreased headache severity was observed with BoNTA. A greater percentage of DVPX patients reported adverse events possibly related to treatment (DVPX 75.8% vs BoNTA 50%, P = .04) and discontinued because of adverse events (DVPX 27.6% vs BoNTA 3.3%, P = .012). CONCLUSIONS: Both BoNTA and DVPX significantly reduced disability associated with migraine; BoNTA had a favorable tolerability profile compared with DVPX.