Rimegepant, Recently Approved for Acute Migraine Treatment, Now Available to Prescribe Via Telemedicine
Rimegepant (Nurtec; Biohaven, New Haven, CT), which was recently approved for acute treatment of migraine, is now available to be prescribed via a telemedicine platform (Cove, New York, NY). This is especially important in this unprecedented time of decreased access to routine health care, during which the American Migraine Foundation has recommended telemedicine visits for people with migraine. Although people are encouraged to continue seeing their current health care provider if possible, this platform provides an option for people with migraine who do not have a provider or are not able to access their existing clinician.
On the platform, individuals may have a visit with a licensed physician for diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment, which may include rimegepant or other medications. This offers an important solution for situations when a physician's office is closed, does not have their own telemedicine capability, or cannot serve their patients for any reason. People using the platform may request that their telemedicine record is shared with their primary care provider.
BJ Jones, chief commercial officer of Migraine and Common Diseases commented, "Biohaven is committed to providing people with migraine innovative options for accessing healthcare, particularly given the challenges facing patients in the current healthcare environment. During this period, patients may experience an increase in attacks and it is important to keep those suffering from migraine functioning normally, and out of doctor offices/emergency rooms to comply with travel restrictions. By making Nurtec available through Cove's platform, we can provide migraine patients with another option to access doctors and treatment from the safety and comfort of their homes."
Alicia Torborg, executive director, Association of Migraine Disorders, said, "Especially during this trying time, we all need to help patients get the care that they need when they need it. Telemedicine will help to fill this gap and may very well be the way of our future."
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved rimegepant for the acute treatment of migraine in adults on February 27, 2020. Rimegepant, which disperses almost instantly in a person's mouth without the need for water, works by blocking the CGRP receptor, treating a root cause of migraine. Rimegepant is not indicated for the preventive treatment of migraine. Existing offerings of rimegepant include a 2-dose complimentary sample pack available with a prescription from healthcare providers, a patient starter kit, and a copay card where commercially insured individuals can pay as little as $0 per month for rimegepant. Individuals using the Cove telemedicine platform will be eligible for the copay card.