Future targets for migraine treatment beyond CGRP

Journal article

BACKGROUND: Migraine is a disabling and chronic neurovascular headache disorder. Trigeminal vascular activation and release of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of migraine. This knowledge has led to the development of CGRP(-receptor) therapies. Yet, a substantial proportion of patients do not respond to these treatments. Therefore, alternative targets for future therapies are warranted. The current narrative review provides a comprehensive overview of the pathophysiological role of these possible non-CGRP targets in migraine. FINDINGS: antibody have been tested for migraine treatment, albeit with ambiguous results. CONCLUSION: While current research on these non-CGRP drug targets has not yet led to the development of efficacious therapies, human provocation studies using these targets have provided valuable insight into underlying mechanisms of migraine headaches and auras. Further studies are needed on these alternative therapies in non-responders of CGRP(-receptor) targeted therapies with the ultimate aim to pave the way towards a headache-free future for all migraine patients.

Authors: Al-Hassany, L; Boucherie, DM; Creeney, H; van Drie, RWA; Farham, F

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• Journal: The Journal of Headache and Pain
• Volume: 24
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 76-76
• Article number: 76
• Publication date: 2023-06-27
• DOI: 10.1186/s10194-023-01567-4
• EISSN: 1129-2377
• ISSN: 1129-2369
• Language: English
• Keywords: Pharmacology; Endocrinology; Internal medicine; Biology; Calcitonin; Adrenomedullin; Neuroscience; Neuropeptide; Vasoactive intestinal peptide; Medicine; Amylin; Calcitonin gene-related peptide; Migraine; Receptor