Teva UK has launched a pre-filled pen for fremanezumab (Ajovy) injection.
This will give patients on Ajovy added convenience and flexibility not previously available with the pre-filled syringe.
Indicated for the prevention of migraine in adults who have at least four migraine days per month, Ajovy offers quarterly and monthly dosing options.
Ajovy pre-filled pen has several features that make it easy-to-use including a button-free, push-down mechanism, audible cues that signal progress of administration, and a window that displays when the dose has been delivered.
The product was developed in the UK at Teva’s research and development site in Abbots Park, Runcorn, Cheshire.
“It is the first and only anti-CGRP drug recommended for use on the NHS in England and Wales by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for chronic migraine patients,” the company has said.
Within NHS Scotland, the product is accepted for restricted use by the Scottish Medicine Consortium (SMC) for chronic and episodic migraine.
Ajovy is an option for migraine patients who have not responded to at least three prior preventive treatments, according to Teva.
Dr Mark Weatherall, Chair of the British Association for the Study of Headache said: “Chronic migraine is a debilitating neurological disorder which can, without the right treatment, strike at any time leaving the sufferer feeling helpless.
“Fremanezumab is well tolerated, effective and particularly useful for complex migraine patients, where other treatments have failed. Patients are often worried about using traditional syringes to inject themselves. A pen device is simple to self-administer and increases patients’ control over their own management of their condition.”
Neurology Nurse Prescriber Rebecca Stuckey, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust said: “As healthcare professionals, we want to be able to get patients onto migraine specific treatments expediently. However, headache or migraine specialist clinics are often challenged by high caseloads.
“A pen device which patients can easily self-administer will reduce appointments and waiting times. This option will also be welcomed by my patients, who can travel two to three hours to the clinic for appointments.”
Previously, migraine prevention therapies were limited to treatments repurposed from other disease areas (such as beta-blockers, anti-epileptics, anti-depressants and botulinum toxin injections).
Botulinum toxin, requiring a minimum of 31 injections into the head or neck per treatment, has to be administered by a healthcare professional at a specialist centre.
Patients may self-inject at home once instructed in subcutaneous self-injection technique by a healthcare professional. This has the potential to free up NHS resources such as nurse or consultant time, the company said in a statement.
