Migraine Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand has submitted a
consumer application to Pharmac to fund Emgality
(galcanezumab) for the treatment of chronic
migraine.
Emgality is one of several monoclonal
antibody medications that act to block a protein, calcitonin
gene-related peptide (CGRP), which is involved in triggering
migraine attacks.
CGRP monoclonal antibodies are the
first medications developed specifically to prevent
migraine. Prior to their development, the only preventive
medications used for migraine were medications developed for
other conditions, such as depression, epilepsy and high
blood pressure, that were found to be useful to prevent
migraine.
CGRP monoclonal antibody medications are a
significant development in migraine treatment. They’ve
been found to be safe and effective, with fewer side effects
than many other preventive migraine
medications.
Emgality is funded in many other OECD
countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, the
United States and Canada. In New Zealand, people must pay
around $325 per injection – 2 injections are needed at the
beginning of treatment and then one injection every 4
weeks.
“Overseas, people with migraine have had
access to these medications for years,” Suzanne Vale,
Migraine Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand co-founder
says.
“But people with migraine in New Zealand
haven’t. And while Emgality is available in New Zealand,
the price means it’s out of reach of many people who would
benefit from it,” Suzanne says.
An estimated 642,000
people live with migraine in New Zealand, and it is the
fourth highest cause of disability. It’s estimated 45,000
people in Aotearoa New Zealand have chronic migraine, where
people experience headache on 15 days or more per month, of
which at least eight have symptoms of migraine. Migraine
symptoms, which usually worsen with movement, include
nausea, vomiting, and sensitivities to light, sound, or
smell, on top of the moderate to severe head pain that can
be pulsating or throbbing which migraine is known for.
Migraine attacks that occur less frequently are known as
episodic.
In New Zealand, chronic migraine prevalence
is similar to epilepsy, but more common than many other
significant neurological conditions including stroke,
Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
Emgality
has been shown to be effective in preventing migraine
attacks in people with both episodic and chronic migraine,
significantly reducing the number of monthly migraine days
and disability from migraine.
“We know from overseas
research that migraine costs governments, employers, whānau
and individuals. Chronic migraine is associated with lost
productivity from work, lower levels of education and a
reduced ability to engage in employment,” Suzanne
says.
“We had 540 people respond to our recent
Migraine in Aotearoa New Zealand survey. Of those with
chronic migraine, 23 percent reported being unable to work,
which is double what those with episodic migraine reported,
and only four percent reported no work-related difficulties,
compared to just 21 percent of those with episodic
migraine.”
“People in New Zealand deserve funded
access to modern migraine medications to help us fully
partake in life and work. And to reduce the burden of
migraine on society overall.”
The funding
application to Pharmac should be considered by the
Pharmaceutical Therapeutic Advisory Committee (PTAC) in
2023, at the earliest during their meeting on 16-17
February. Decisions from PTAC meetings are usually made
public three months after the meeting date.
Migraine
Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand is calling on the migraine
community to support its application to Pharmac. The
Foundation has developed an advocacy toolkit that includes
practical ways people can take action and raise awareness of
the importance of funding Emgality.
Visit the Emgality
advocacy toolkit for more information: https://www.migrainefoundation.org.nz/emgality-advocacy-toolkit/
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