Galcanezumab effective in patients with episodic or chronic cluster headache

In an open-label safety study, which implemented a dosing strategy to more closely approximate clinical practice, treatment with galcanezumab improved patient-reported cluster headache in most patients with episodic or chronic cluster headache [1].

Galcanezumab is a monoclonal antibody (mAb) that binds calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and prevents its biological activity without blocking the CGRP receptor. The phase 3b, open-label safety CGAR study (NCT02797951) evaluated the safety of galcanezumab within the context of expected medical practice in patients (n=163) with episodic or chronic cluster headache. Dr Charly Gaul (Headache Clinic Königstein, Germany) presented a post hoc efficacy analysis from this study.

Using the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I), 81% of patients reported improvement of their cluster headache condition as very much better, much better, or a little better at 1 month after starting galcanezumab; this was 91% at 6 months and 93% at 12 months (see Figure). Similarly, the mean PGI-I score was 2.4 at 1 month after starting galcanezumab, 2.0 at 6 months, and 1.8 at 12 months. Mean change in PGI-I was associated with the mean change in European Quality 5-Dimensions 5-Levels (EQ-5D-5L) scores by the first month after starting galcanezumab.

Figure: Patients-reported improvement of cluster headache using the PGI-I after treatment with galcanezumab [1]



These data indicate an overall improvement in health status in patients with cluster headache in response to open-label galcanezumab treatment.

1. Gaul C, et al. Efficacy Results from an Open-Label Safety Study of Galcanezumab in Patients with Episodic or Chronic Cluster Headache. AL076, IHC 2021, 8–12 September.

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Posted on 8 November 20211 February 2024