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Emgality ® ▼ (galcanezumab)
Emgality® ▼ (galcanezumab): Rebound Headache in Migraine Prevention
There is no evidence of potential withdrawal or rebound headache after discontinuing galcanezumab in the phase 3 clinical trials for migraine prevention.
Withdrawal and Rebound During Post-Treatment Period in the Phase 3 Migraine Prevention Studies
Post TEAEs related to withdrawal and rebound were evaluated for each of the phase 3 migraine prevention trials mentioned below.1,2
There was no evidence of withdrawal or rebound following galcanezumab discontinuation after evaluating AEs during the post-treatment period.1,2
A review of withdrawal and rebound event terms did not show any pattern of TEAEs that would indicate any withdrawal potential for galcanezumab.1
Many reported event terms were
time-limited
mild, and
not associated with other TEAEs suggestive of a possible withdrawal syndrome.1
During the post-treatment phase for the phase 3 clinical trials for the prevention of episodic and chronic migraine, there were 17 patients across all treatment groups who reported the post TEAE of headache or migraine.1,2
Of the 17 patients there were
3 galcanezumab-treated patients who reported the PT of headache
11 galcanezumab-treated patients who reported the PT of migraine, and
2 placebo-treated patient who reported the PT of headache, and
1 placebo-treated patient who reported the PT of migraine.1,2
From the available information for these patients, these events likely represented a recurrence of their pre-existing headache disorder. Thus, this review of AEs from galcanezumab clinical studies provides no evidence for any potential for withdrawal or rebound following discontinuation of galcanezumab.1
Description of Analysis Set
Galcanezumab has been studied in phase 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies in adult patients for the prevention of
The studies had a duration of
6 months for prevention of episodic migraine,3,4 and
3 months for prevention of chronic migraine, with an optional 9-month open-label extension phase.5
Patients were randomized at the beginning of double-blind treatment in a 2:1:1 ratio to receive monthly subcutaneous injections of
placebo
galcanezumab 120 mg with a loading dose of 240 mg, or
galcanezumab 240 mg.3-5
The recommended dose is 120 mg galcanezumab injected subcutaneously once monthly, with a 240 mg loading dose as the initial dose.6 Please note that the results of a maintenance dose of 240 mg galcanezumab once monthly are also included in this response. Even though this dose has been tested in pivotal studies, it has not been approved and therefore is not recommended.
Galcanezumab has also been studied in a phase 3, open-label, 12-month safety study (CGAJ) for the prevention of episodic or chronic migraine.7
In CGAJ, patients were randomized to either galcanezumab 120 mg (with 240-mg loading dose) or galcanezumab 240 mg monthly.7
Please note that the results of a maintenance dose of 240 mg galcanezumab once monthly are also described here. Even though this dose has been tested in pivotal studies, it has not been approved and therefore is not recommended.
There was a 4-month post treatment (washout) period following the
6-month double-blind treatment period in EVOLVE-1 and EVOLVE-23,4
9-month open-label extension period in REGAIN5, and
12-month open-label treatment period in CGAJ.7
1. Data on file, Eli Lilly and Company and/or one of its subsidiaries.
2. Stauffer VL, Wang S, Voulgaropoulos M, et al. Effect of galcanezumab following treatment cessation in patients with migraine: results from 2 randomized phase 3 trials. Headache. 2019;59(6):834-847. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/head.13508
3. Stauffer VL, Dodick DW, Zhang Q, et al. Evaluation of galcanezumab for the prevention of episodic migraine: the EVOLVE-1 randomized clinical trial. JAMA Neurol. 2018;75(9):1080-1088. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2018.1212
4. Skljarevski V, Matharu M, Millen BA, et al. Efficacy and safety of galcanezumab for the prevention of episodic migraine: results of the EVOLVE-2 phase 3 randomized controlled clinical trial. Cephalalgia. 2018;38(8):1442-1454. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0333102418779543
5. Detke HC, Goadsby PJ, Wang S, et al. Galcanezumab in chronic migraine: the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled REGAIN study. Neurology. 2018;91(24):e2211-e2221. http://dx.doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000006640
6. Emgality [summary of product characteristics]. Eli Lilly Nederland B.V., The Netherlands.
7. Camporeale A, Kudrow D, Sides R, et al. A phase 3, long-term, open-label safety study of galcanezumab in patients with migraine. BMC Neurology. 2018;18(1):188. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12883-018-1193-2
Glossary
AE = adverse event
PT = preferred term
TEAE = treatment-emergent adverse event
▼ This medicinal product is subject to additional monitoring. This will allow quick identification of new safety information. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions.
Date of Last Review: March 18, 2019
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