Emgality and Ajovy were also approved

Competition between migraine drugs

Of the estimated 2.6 million Korean patients, only 550,000 are prescribed drugs

Following Lilly's Emgality (Galcanezumab), Teva's Ajovy (Fremanezumab) were released in Korea as a new medicine for migraine prevention.

 

Attention is focusing on whether CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide) drugs, which have entered the domestic migraine treatment market without suitable treatments, will become popular.

 

Emgality, Ajovy, and Aimovig

Aimovig is not yet authorized in Korea.

 

On Wednesday, the MFDS approved Teva Handok's migraine prevention drug Ajovy.

 

It is the second CGRP drug after Lilly's Emgality.

 

Emgality was granted permission in September 2019.

 

It was released in December of that year as non reimbursed drug.

 

Amgen is reportedly aiming for another CGRP drug, Aimovig (Erenumab), to enter Korea.

 

If Aimovig is released, competition for three drugs is expected to proceed as well as in the global market.

 

The three drugs combine with CGPR, known as migraine-causing substances, to block the action of receptors.

 

It is the first preventive treatment that targets migraines only.

 

In the U.S., it was approved one after another from May to September 2018 in order of Aimovig, Ajovy, and Emgality.

 

As of last year, global sales include Aimovig $378 million, Emgality $199 million, and Ajovi $165 million.

 

There have been no suitable migraine treatments in the domestic market.

 

Although both acute and preventive treatments were possible, existing treatments had clear limitations.

 

General painkillers such as Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen, which are used to treat acute conditions, and triptans-based drugs have different effects, and they have caused drug-induced headaches when overused.

 

The triptane series has also reported side effects of excessive blood vessels contracting.

 

In the case of preventive treatment, beta blockers, CCB (calcium channel blockers), ABR (angiotensin receptor blockers), antidepressants, and epilepsy treatments, which are high blood pressure drugs, were partially.

 

However, it was not widely used in that it was not developed for the purpose of treating migraines.

 

Recently, Botulinum toxin injections have been actively attempted.

 

However, it is only for chronic migraines, and it was burdensome for patients to get about 30 injections every three months.

 

The market size of migraine drugs in Korea is not large.

 

According to UBIST, prescription amount of triptans-related drugs in Korea was only ₩15.5 billion as of last year.

 

If the remaining drugs are added to this, it will be around ₩30 billion per year.

 

The new line of drugs is expected to increase sales in the migraine market.

 

According to the Korea Headache Society, the prevalence of migraines in Korea is around 6%.

 

In fact, 2.6 million people have migraines.

 

However, the actual number of patients treated for migraines in hospitals was 550,000 (the HIRA's statistics) as of 2020.

 

In other words, there are about 2 million potential patients.

 

The key is whether or not the benefit will be applied.

 

Emgality, which was first released in Korea, submitted an application for health insurance benefits in March.

 

Currently, it is between ₩500,000 and ₩700,000 at a time as non-reimbursement in Korea.

 

Ajovy from Teva Handok is also expected to apply for insurance benefits soon.