Ajovy for Migraine – and Cluster? Another New Drug

Ajovy (fremanezumab-vfrm) (formerly called TEV-48125), a new anti-CGRP drug for migraine, was approved in the USA by the FDA last month.

Like Aimovig, Ajovy is taken by injection. It can be taken monthly, but unlike Aimovig it was also approved to be taken quarterly. A study that we talked about back in January showed that Ajovy was only slightly more effective when taken monthly. For many people, an injection every three months sounds a lot better than every month!

You can read more about the history of this drug, along with more useful information, in the press release from Teva: Teva Announces U.S. Approval of AJOVY™ (fremanezumab-vfrm) Injection, the First and Only Anti-CGRP Treatment with Both Quarterly and Monthly Dosing for the Preventive Treatment of Migraine in Adults

So what about cluster headache? Though not yet approved for cluster, there are some signs that Ajovy and/or future anti-CGRP drugs may help a lot of cluster patients. If you’re interested in the technical details about the link between CGRP and cluster, check out For Your Patients-Cluster Headache: CGRP Implicated in Cluster Headache Attacks at Neurology Today.

Teva decided to scrap its trial of Ajovy for chronic cluster, when it didn’t look like the results would be as good as hoped. They do have high hopes for treatment of episodic cluster.

But even if Ajovy doesn’t turn out to be the best option for cluster patients, it does look very hopeful that one of the other CGRP related drugs may help bring significant relief.

Meanwhile, Ajovy is full-steam-ahead for migraine patients. For more information, visit the official Ajovy website here.