Stop the pain of the migraine and on his return – Viviana Persiani’s blog

In Italy themigraine It affects about 6 million people, equal to 12% of the population, with a particularly high impact on women of fertile age, among whom it represents the first cause of disability. It is a chronic and disabling neurological pathology, very different from the “simple headache”, which every year involves a socio -economic cost estimated in 20 billion eurosdue 93% to the loss of productivity. The diagnostic path is often long and complex: on average it takes over five years to reach a diagnosis, with 7-8 years.

“Migraine is a primary headache, therefore a neurological pathology not linked to other diseases, characterized by recurring and painful attacks that can be accompanied by accessory symptoms – explains Prof. Alessandro Padovani, full professor of neurology at the University of Brescia, director of the Institute of Clinical Neurology and President of the Italian Society of Neurology (SIN). Clinical management requires two distinct approaches: the acute one, for the less frequent episodes, and the preventive, in high frequency or chronic cases, when the pain is present for at least 15 days a month. Timely intervention is essential to reduce the risk of chronicization, often aggravated by the hyperusive of symptomatic drugs ».

Despite the high impact, however, this pathology still remains underground, trivialized and invisible. As Alessandra Sorrentino, president of the Cafalalgic Alliance Association (Al.ce) explains, “the psychological weight is too often underestimated: anxiety, sense of guilt and impotence, renunciation and isolation make this pathology even more disabling. To personal difficulties are added those of the care path: diagnostic delays, poor awareness between some health workers and disparities in access to specialized centers and innovative therapies. Making migraine visible means recognizing its impact, restoring dignity, listening and timely care, so that no one should feel only in the face of this disease anymore ».

In this context, the therapeutic novelty of Pfizer is inserted: Rimagepant (Vydura), the first and only oral anti-cgp approved in Italy, also available in reimbursement regime. It is an innovative option that combines two indications: acute treatment of the attack and prevention of episodic migraine. The OroDispersible formulation facilitates its intake even during the attacks, simplifying the therapeutic paths and improving adherence. Clinical studies have shown a significant reduction in pain and symptoms already after two hours, effectively up to 48 hours, and a reduction in the number of days of migraine if taken regularly.

Prof. Piero Barbanti, president of the Italian Association for the fight against headaches (AIC), an ordinary of neurology at the San Raffaele University of Rome and director of the unit for the care and research on headaches and pain of the IRCCS San Raffaele explains that “Rimagepant represents a step forward because it is the first oral gepante approved in Italy with double indication: acute treatment and prevention in the adults of attacks in patients with episodic migraine ».

As the Prof. Cristina Tagorelli, Professor of Neurology at the Department of Sciences of the Nervous System and the behavior of the University of Pavia and Director of the Headache Science & Neurorehabilitation Center of the IRCCS National Neurological Institute C. Mondino di Pavia, “the drug,” the drug opens new prospects in the clinical management of the Micrania, underlines. In acute, it allows you to effectively treat attacks even in patients who do not respond to triptans or who present contraindications. In prevention, it offers a simple and easy to handle option that does not require injections or complex titles ».

Thanks to these characteristics, Rimagepant represents a concrete step forward for patients who do not respond to other therapies or do not tolerate injection treatments. Pfizer, which has always been engaged in neuroscience, supports scientific development awareness and prevention initiatives to return time, serenity and dignity to those who live with this disease too often invisible.

“Our commitment is not limited to the development of new therapies – underlines Dr. Barbara Capaccetti, medical director of Pfizer in Italy – but includes awareness, prevention and support initiatives, so that migraine is recognized as a serious and disabling pathology. We want to return time, serenity and quality of life to those who live with this disease, promoting more timely and accessible diagnosis and care paths “.