Wansford Health

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Chronic migraine can be a costly and disabling disorder that can have a devastating impact on the lives of an estimated 700,000 people in the UK suffering from the condition2, as well as their families. Patients suffering from chronic migraine are more likely to visit Accident and Emergency (A&E), general practitioners (GPs) or speciality care physicians than patients with less frequent episodes of migraine. However, although distinct from other types of migraine, approximately 80% of chronic migraine patients may not actually be diagnosed.3 Historically, treatment for chronic migraine has consisted of a combination of over-the-counter and prescription treatments such as triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, β-blockers and anti-epileptics.

"There is an unmet need for effective and well-tolerated therapies specifically designed and studied for the prophylaxis of headache in chronic migraine" said Scott Whitcup, M.D., Allergan's Executive Vice President, Research and Development and Chief Scientific Officer.

PREEMPT: the largest clinical trial programme in chronic migraine

The PREEMPT (Phase III REsearch Evaluating Migraine Prophylaxis Therapy) programme evaluated the safety profile and efficacy of a prophylactic (preventative) headache treatment in chronic migraine patients.3 PREEMPT4 is the largest clinical programme in chronic migraine and consists of two phase III clinical trials involving 1,384 adults. Patients were eligible for the study if they had a history of migraine and experienced 15 or more headache days of which at least 50% were migraine or probable migraine during the 28 day baseline period. In a pooled assessment, two thirds of the patients had previously been treated with at least one other headache prophylactic medication and nearly two thirds of the patients were overusing acute medications. During the 28-day baseline period, patients reported suffering from an average of 19.9 headache days (headache for 4 or more hours in any calendar day), of which an average of 19.1 were migraine/probable migraine days (migraine headache on 4 or more hours in any calendar day)

migraine.