FDA approves new drug for preventive treatment of migraines in adults- Drug Information Update

Today, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Ajovy (fremanezumab-vfrm) for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults. Ajovy is the second FDA-approved preventive migraine treatment in a new class of drugs that work by blocking the activity of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a molecule that is involved in migraine attacks. Aimovig (erenumab-aooe), the first in this class, was approved on May 17, 2018.

Patients often describe migraine headache pain as an intense pulsing or throbbing pain in one area of the head. Additional symptoms include nausea and/or vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine attacks can cause significant pain or hours to days and can be so severe that the pain is disabling. Warning symptoms known as aura may occur before or with the headache. These can include flashes of light, blind spots, or tingling on one side of your face or in your arm or leg.

Ajovy is contraindicated in patients with serious hypersensitivity to fremanezumab-vfrm or to any of the excipients. Hypersensitivity reactions, including rash, pruritis (itching), drug hypersensitivity, and urticaria (hives) were reported with Ajovy in clinical trials. Most reactions were mild to moderate, but some led to discontinuation or required corticosteroid treatment. Most reactions were reported from within hours to one month after administration. The most common adverse reactions were injection site reactions and infections.

For more information, please visit: Ajovy (fremanezumab-vfrm) .