Erenumab meets endpoint in Phase III migraine trial

Positive top-line results for erenumab from a global Phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled STudy to evaluate the efficacy and safety of erenumab in migRaIne preVEntion (STRIVE) have been released.

According to US biotech Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN) and Swiss pharma giant Novartis (NOVN: VX), who are partnering on the development of erenumab (AMG 334), these data showed the STRIVE study met the primary endpoint, demonstrating statistically-significant reductions from baseline in monthly migraine days in patients with episodic migraine treated with either 70mg or 140mg erenumab compared with placebo. Erenumab is specifically designed to prevent migraine by blocking the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor, which is believed to have a critical role in mediating the incapacitating pain of migraine.

"Migraine is ranked one of the most debilitating diseases by the World Health Organization, yet it is often under-diagnosed and under-treated. People who experience migraine battle the disease for many years and it has significant impact on their everyday activities," said Sean Harper, executive vice president of R&D at Amgen. "The results of this study are important because they confirm the results from our previous studies and add to our body of research in episodic migraine. We look forward to working with regulatory authorities to pursue approval of erenumab and making this novel migraine prevention treatment available to patients and physicians," he added.