Breakthrough in Migraine Treatment for Children: A New Hope
A recent international clinical study, involving the IRCCS San Raffaele of Rome, has brought new hope for children suffering from migraines. The study found that a specific antibody, Fremanezumab, can halve migraine attacks in children. This monoclonal antibody, directed against calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for pediatric use and is currently under evaluation for approval in Europe.
Study Findings and Implications
The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, involved 237 patients between the ages of 6 and 17 with episodic migraine. According to co-author Piero Barbanti, director of the Headache and Pain Treatment and Research Unit of the IRCCS and professor of Neurology at the San Raffaele University, “after just three months of treatment, fremanezumab resulted in a reduction in the frequency of attacks of at least 50% in over half of the subjects, without significant adverse events.” This result is significant, as it was previously unthinkable, and highlights the potential of Fremanezumab in treating migraines in children.
Migraine Prevalence and Impact on Children
Migraine is a common neurological disorder in childhood and adolescence, affecting an estimated 11% of this age group. The prevalence of migraine increases with age, affecting approximately 5% of children at 10 years old, and reaching up to 28% in females and 15% in post-adolescent males. In Italy, hundreds of thousands of young people suffer from migraines, often going underdiagnosed and with limited therapeutic options. Migraines have a significant impact on the quality of life of young people, compromising school, social relationships, and overall well-being.
A New Era in Migraine Treatment
The availability of Fremanezumab for the prevention and control of migraine attacks in children is a significant breakthrough. As Barbanti notes, “being able to treat migraines in children and adolescents with such an effective and safe drug means finally offering a treatment truly designed for them, with the possibility of intervening early, intercepting the disease in the bud, and drastically reducing the risk of it becoming chronic in adulthood.” The San Raffaele University’s leading role in international clinical research has been confirmed, with the institution being the first recruiting center worldwide for the study.
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