The first interim analysis of Italian patients enrolled in the real-world, Pan-European, prospective, observational, phase 4 PEARL study of fremanezumab effectiveness

• Published in: Neurological sciences 2024-05, Vol.45 (5), p.2353-2363
• Main Authors: Tassorelli, Cristina, Barbanti, Piero, Finocchi, Cinzia, Geppetti, Pierangelo, Kokturk, Pinar, Russo, Antonio, Sacco, Simona, Cepparulo, Mario
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Calcitonin; Calcitonin gene-related peptide; Clinical Trial article; Headache; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Migraine; Monoclonal antibodies; Neurology; Neuroradiology; Neurosurgery; Patients; Psychiatry
• ISSN: 1590-1874; 1590-3478
• DOI: 10.1007/s10072-024-07357-3

Introduction In 2020, the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) approved the reimbursement of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) pathway monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), including fremanezumab, in patients with a Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS) score ≥ 11, with prescription renewals for up to 12 months in patients with ≥ 50% reduction in MIDAS score at Months 3 and 6. In this sub-analysis of the Pan-European Real Life (PEARL) study, we provide real-world data on fremanezumab use in Italian routine clinical practice (EUPAS35111). Methods This first interim analysis for Italy was conducted when 300 enrolled adult patients with episodic or chronic migraine (EM, CM) completed 6 months of treatment with fremanezumab. The primary endpoint is the proportion of patients achieving ≥ 50% reduction in monthly migraine days (MMD) across the 6 months post-fremanezumab initiation. Secondary endpoints include: proportion of patients achieving ≥ 50% reduction in MIDAS score at Months 3 and 6, and mean change from baseline across Months 1–6 in MMD and headache-related disability. Safety was assessed through adverse events (AEs) reported. Results Of 354 patients enrolled at Italian centers, 318 (EM, 35.5%, CM, 64.5%) were included in the effectiveness analysis. Of patients with available data, 109 (61.2%) achieved the primary endpoint. 61.0% and 65.1% achieved ≥ 50% reduction in MMDs at Months 3 and 6, respectively; 79.9% and 81.0% experienced ≥ 50% reduction in MIDAS at the same timepoints. Conclusion Fremanezumab was effective and well-tolerated over the first 6 months of treatment, with approximately 80% of patients meeting Italian criteria for treatment continuation at Months 3 and 6.