Latest FDA-Approved Preventive Treatment For Migraine, Qulipta, Enters A Highly Competitive Market
On September 28th, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a once-daily oral medicine, Qulipta (atogepant), for preventive treatment of episodic migraine in adults. It is the second FDA-approved, oral anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) drug for preventing migraine. The first was Nurtec ODT (rimegepant), which was approved as an acute migraine treatment in 2020, and in May of this year gained approval as a preventive treatment in adult patients with less than 15 headaches days per month.
As a result of an all-out blitz advertising and sales campaign, Nurtec ODT is currently out-competing Ubrelvy (ubrogepant) for market share in the oral acute treatment space. In 2019, Ubrelvy became the first FDA-approved oral anti-CGRP drug for acute migraine.
A battle looms between Nurtec ODT and Qulipta in the prophylaxis space. And, looking ahead, Nurtec ODT may have a first-to-market advantage over Qulipta as an oral prophylaxis migraine treatment.
Initially, it was thought that given the convenience of an oral tablet, Nurtec ODT may erode market share from injectable CGRP antagonists. But, it appears that market expansion, rather than market displacement (taking away competitors’ market shares) is what’s happening. This makes sense in light of the fact that of the roughly 38 million Americans suffering from migraines only about half are on prescription medications. Indeed, the migraine category is a relatively untapped market, with an expected compound annual growth rate of nearly 10% in the next five to 10 years, and global sales anticipated to reach approximately $13 billion by 2027.
Migraine is characterized by severe headache that can last hours to several days. Prior to a migraine, up to 33% of sufferers will have visual, sensory, motor, or verbal disturbances that signal the beginning of an attack. During an episode, a person may have sensitivity to light, as well as gastrointestinal, cognitive, and vestibular symptoms. Following a migraine attack, a person may feel dizzy and fatigued. Migraine accounts for more than 800,000 emergency room visits in the U.S. annually.
Oct 3, 2021
https://www.forbes.com/
