NICE recommends Lilly’s Emgality for chronic and episodic migraine
pharmafile | November 18, 2020 | News story | Research and Development, Sales and Marketing | Eli Lilly, NHS, NICE, UK
Eli Lilly’s Emgality (galcanezumab) is set to become an approved option for the prevention of episodic and chronic migraine on the NHS in England and Wales after NICE gave its recommendation to the drug for routine use.
The UK watchdog based its decision on data drawn from four clinical trials in which Lilly’s therapy proved twice as effective as placebo in reducing migraine headache days in patients who had already tried at least three preventative treatments, with an overall reduction of up to 40%.
“Migraine is one of the most common neurological disorders in the world, and many patients are highly disabled by their attacks. Despite this fact, there are very few treatments specifically designed to prevent this often debilitating condition,” explained Dr Mark Weatherall, Chair of the British Association for the Study of Headache. “This is why the NICE recommendation of galcanezumab is so exciting: it will give us the opportunity to translate the clinically meaningful benefits seen in clinical trials into the real world, with a treatment that is convenient and well tolerated. We are entering an era when we can provide more targeted treatments for people who suffer from episodic and chronic migraine.”
Migraine attacks can often last anywhere between four and 72 hours, and chronic sufferers experience attacks at least 15 days a month over a period of three months; less frequent bouts of attacks are classed as episodic migraine.
Gemma Jolly, Head of Information and Support at the Migraine Trust, added: “This is wonderful news for people living with this very painful and debilitating neurological condition. Both chronic and episodic migraine patients across England and Wales will be able to access an effective drug on the NHS that has been specifically designed to prevent migraine. Migraine significantly impacts the lives of those who live with it and access to this important new medication will be life-changing for many.”
Matt Fellows
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