Lilly’s new migraine treatment Emgality Prefilled Pen Inj. (ingredient: galcanezumab) has won a local license.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on Thursday approved Emgality, as sought by Lilly Korea. The treatment can be prescribed to prevent migraine in adults.

Emgality is a Calcitonin Gene-related Peptide (CGRP)-targeted antibody drug. CGRP is a small protein released by the trigeminal nerve that causes migraine headaches. The drug has a mechanism that prevents migraine by targeting CGRP.

In the past, doctors used antidepressants, beta-blockers, and epilepsy treatments to treat migraine. However, such drugs had side effects, including weight loss, lethargy, and handshaking. Now, CGRP-targeted therapies are attracting attention because they have fewer side effects than conventional medications.

In three clinical trials in patients with paroxysmal hemicrania for more than six months, Emgality reduced the number of monthly average migraine by 4.2-4.8 days. It was a significant difference from the placebo’s 2.3-2.8 days decrease in the number of migraines a month.

Emgality is first injected 120 mg twice consecutively under the skin, and 120 mg once a month by the patient herself. If the patient forgot to take the injection, she could do it as soon as possible.

Migraine tends to last for four to 72 hours repeatedly. Digestive problems, such as nausea and vomiting, are accompanied. Some patients experience light or sound phobias because light or sound aggravate migraine.

According to the Korean Headache Society, migraine is a brain disease with severe pain that is repeated for a long time. Not only treating acute migraine but preventing it is essential. About one-third of all migraine patients are known to require prevention treatment.