ARISE: A Phase 3 randomized trial of erenumab for episodic migraine

Erenumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets the calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor. This study evaluated erenumab's effectiveness for preventing episodic migraines. Five hundred seventy-seven adults participated in this phase 3 trial. They were randomly assigned to receive either erenumab or a placebo. The primary goal was to measure changes in monthly migraine days. Patients receiving erenumab experienced a reduction of 2.9 days. In contrast, placebo users had a reduction of 1.8 days. About 39.7% of those on erenumab achieved at least a 50% reduction. For the placebo group, this was only 29.5%. Additionally, erenumab users needed 1.2 fewer acute medication days. The safety profile of erenumab was comparable to placebo. Most common side effects included upper respiratory infections, injection site pain, and nasopharyngitis. Erenumab significantly decreased migraine frequency and medication use for episodic migraines. Clinical relevance: Erenumab offers a new option for preventing episodic migraines, improving patient quality of life.