The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the fremanezumab-vfrm injection for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults. This is the second anti-CGRP drug to receive approval from the FDA. The FDA previously approved the Novartis anti-CGRP monthly injection, containing the human monoclonal antibody Erenumab, and this was granted a marketing license in Ireland earlier this year.The Fremanezumab-vfrm injection is produced by TEVA Pharmaceuticals. Fremanezumab-vfrm works by inhibiting the CGRP itself whereas Erenumab blocks the CGRP receptor. Fremanezumab-vfrm will also offer patients the options of quarterly injection as well as monthly injections.
On September 27th, 2018 Eli- Lilly’s CGRP, Galcanezumab received FDA approval. Galcanezumab offers a once-monthly, self-administered, subcutaneous injection of 120 ml but a double dose is needed at the start to kick start the process. Like fremanezumab it works on the CGRP’s ligand and not the receptor.The CGRP drug, Epitesumab by Alder Bio Pharmaceuticals will apply for FDA approval later this year. Alder is scheduled to present results from its migraine study during the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco in January 2019.
