Observational, open-label, non-randomized study on the efficacy of onabotulinumtoxinA in the treatment of nummular headache: The pre-numabot study.

BACKGROUND: Nummular headache is a primary headache characterised by superficial, coin-shaped pain. Superficial sensory fibre dysfunction might be involved in its pathophysiology. Considering the mechanism of action of onabotulinumtoxinA, it could be a reasonable option in treatment of nummular headache. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of onabotulinumtoxinA in a series of nummular headache patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was an observational, prospective, non-randomized and open-label study. Nummular headache patients with at least 10 headache days in three preceding months were included. They were administered 25 units of onabotulinumtoxinA. The primary endpoint was the decrease of headache days per month, evaluated between weeks 20 to 24, compared with baseline. The secondary endpoints included reduction of intense headache days and acute treatment days evaluated between weeks 20-24 and weeks 8-12, compared with baseline. The 30%, 50% and 75% responder rates were determined, and tolerability described. RESULTS: We included 53 patients, 67.9% females, with a median age of 54 years. Preventive treatment had been used previously in 60.4% of patients. The median diameter of the nummular headache was 5 cm. At baseline, the number of headache days per month was 24.5 (7.3); the number of intense headache days was 12.5 (10.1), and the number of acute treatment days was 12.8 (7.8). After onabotulinumtoxinA, the mean number of headache days per month decreased to 6.9 (9.3) between weeks 20 and 24 (p < 0.001). Secondary endpoints concerning intense headache days per month and acute treatment days per month were also statistically significant (p < 0.001). The 50% responder rate, evaluated between weeks 20 and 24, was 77.4% and the 75% responder rate was 52.8%. Concerning tolerability, 26 patients (49.1%) experienced an adverse event (AE), the commonest being injection-site pain in 12 cases (22.6%). There were no moderate or severe AEs. CONCLUSION: It was found that after injecting onabotulinumtoxinA, the number of headache days per month was reduced in nummular headache patients. The number of intense headache days per month and acute treatment days were also lowered. No serious adverse events occurred during treatment.

Ocrelizumab: eficacia y seguridad en la esclerosis múltiple / Ocrelizumab: its efficacy and safety in multiple sclerosis

Introducción. El ocrelizumab es un anticuerpo monoclonal humanizado contra el antígeno CD20 de las células B. Ha sido aprobado recientemente por las agencias sanitarias estadounidense (Food and Drug Administration) y europea (European Medicines Agency) para el tratamiento de la esclerosis múltiple (EM), y supone el primer fármaco comercializado tanto para la EM remitente recurrente (EMRR) como para la EM primariamente progresiva (EMPP). Los ensayos clínicos, tanto para formas recurrentes (OPERA I/II) como para las formas progresivas de la enfermedad (ORATORIO), han demostrado su eficacia. El objetivo de esta revisión es abordar los principales aspectos de eficacia y seguridad del ocrelizumab en la EM. Desarrollo. Se ha realizado una revisión bibliográfica a través de PubMed de trabajos publicados en el congreso ECTRIMS 2017 y de estudios activos en ClinicalTrials. Con el fin de evaluar la eficacia y seguridad del ocrelizumab en la EM, se han revisado ensayos clínicos aleatorizados, así como sus estudios de extensión y de seguimiento, y se ha incluido información sobre seguridad de los programas de monitorización de la Food and Drug Administration y la European Medicines Agency. Conclusiones. El ocrelizumab es el primer fármaco que ha demostrado poder frenar de forma significativa la progresión de la discapacidad en 12 y 24 semanas en pacientes con EMPP. Es también eficaz en el control de la actividad clínica y radiológica en pacientes con formas de EMRR, y su aprobación e indicación engloban ambos fenotipos de la enfermedad. Hasta ahora, el perfil de seguridad del ocrelizumab se ajusta a lo observado en los ensayos clínicos, sin alertas inesperadas

Introduction. Ocrelizumab is a humanised monoclonal antibody that targets the CD20 antigen on B cells. It has recently been approved by the US (Food and Drug Administration) and European health agencies (European Medicines Agency) for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) and is the first drug marketed for both relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and primary progressive MS (PPMS). The clinical trials conducted for both the relapsing forms (OPERA I/II) and the progressive forms of the disease (ORATORIO) have demonstrated its efficacy. The aim of this review is to address the main aspects of the efficacy and safety of ocrelizumab in MS. Development. Using PubMed, a literature review was conducted of studies published at the ECTRIMS 2017 Congress and of active studies in ClinicalTrials. In order to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ocrelizumab in MS, both randomised clinical trials and their extension and follow-up studies were reviewed, and information about its safety obtained from monitoring programmes of the Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency was included. Conclusions. Ocrelizumab is the first drug that has been shown to be able to significantly slow disability progression at 12 and 24 weeks in patients with PPMS. It is also effective in controlling clinical and radiological activity in patients with RRMS forms, and it is approved and indicated for both phenotypes of the disease. To date, the safety profile of ocrelizumab matches that observed in clinical trials, without any unexpected alerts