Rimegepant for the treatment of migraine

Rimegepant is an oral calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist developed with a novel quick-dissolve oral tablet formulation for the acute treatment of migraine by Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, under license from Bristol Myers Squibb. The completed phase II and III trials showed its efficacy in terms of pain freedom, pain relief, release of migraine symptoms and lifestyle recovery, with an effect sustained up to 48 h. Significant clinical efficacy has been reported with a rimegepant single dose. Rimegepant was well tolerated and the few adverse events were mild or moderate and did not cause trial discontinuation. It received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval on February 27, 2020, for the acute treatment of migraine headache. Three clinical trials are currently ongoing to evaluate: i) the long-term safety as migraine acute treatment; ii) the efficacy and safety as a preventive treatment for migraine; and iii) the efficacy and safety for refractory trigeminal neuralgia. Future studies should be designed also to evaluate potential drug-drug interactions.