Migraine is a prevalent, disabling neurological disorder involving the trigeminovascular system. Previous treatments were either originally intended for other conditions and/or associated with intolerable adverse effects (AEs). Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is the most prevalent neuropeptide in the trigeminal afferent neurons and plays a significant role in pain sensitization central to migraine. The CGRP antagonists (gepants and monoclonal antibodies) are the first treatments created specifically for migraine, modulating pain signaling pathways and alleviating migraine attacks and recurrences. With their efficacy in several clinical trials and relatively fewer AEs, the CGRP antagonists show great promise for use in episodic migraine.
© 2019 The Authors Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics © 2019 American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.