Eli Lilly secured federal approval for Emgality, the first migraine treatment approved in the U.S. for decreasing the frequency of episodic cluster headache attacks, the FDA announced June 4.
Four things to know:
1. Emgality is a CGRP inhibitor, a new class of drugs used to prevent or reduce the incidence of migraines.
2. Cluster headaches are recurring, intense headaches that can occur several times per day. Most cases are episodic, lasting in periods from seven days up to one year. Then the patient may experience a pain-free period. Some cases are chronic, with attacks occurring for more than a year without a pain-free period.
3. About 250,000 patients suffer from the condition in the U.S.
4. Emgality is an injectable treatment that is administered once a month. It costs $6,900 a year.