Erenumab Shown to Have Higher Efficacy and Tolerability Compared With Topiramate for Migraine 

In the HER-MES study (NCT03828539), erenumab (Aimovig; Amgen, Thousand Oaks, CA), a calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibitor, had superior efficacy and tolerability as treatment for adults with episodic and chronic migraine compared with topiramate (Topamax, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Titusville, NJ). Erenumab had a significantly lower discontinuation rate compared with topiramate due to adverse events (10.6% vs 38.9%). A larger proportion of participants who received erenumab treatment achieved at least 50% reduction in monthly migraine days (MMD) from baseline compared with those who received topiramate treatment (55.4% vs 31.2%).

"HER-MES is the first study that directly compared the therapeutic effects of an antibody and a small molecule in migraine prevention," said Uwe Reuter, MD, PhD, MBA, trial investigator and managing medical director at Charité Universitätsmedizin in Berlin. "The positive outcomes strengthen the efficacy and safety profile of erenumab as a migraine prevention treatment for patients with migraine."
 
In the topiramate group, the most frequent adverse events that led to discontinuation of the study medication were disturbance in attention, fatigue, paraesthesia, and nausea. In the erenumab group adverse events were fatigue, disturbance in attention, nausea, and dizziness. 

"We're extremely encouraged by these new results, which demonstrate lower discontinuation rates due to adverse events and superior efficacy versus topiramate in migraine prevention and strengthen our confidence that Aimovig has significant potential to help many more patients living with migraine," said Rob Lenz, MD, PhD, senior vice president of Global Development at Amgen. "Amgen is dedicated to helping the millions of people who live with this debilitating neurological disease get back to what's important to them while living with more migraine-free days."