Eptinezumab Now Available For Migraine Treatment by Prescription

Author(s):

Eligible commercially insured patients may pay as little as $5 per infusion every 3 months for eptinezumab through the VYEPTI Copay Assistance Program, according to Lundbeck.

Peter Anastasiou

Lundbeck announced its FDA-approved migraine treatment, eptinezumab (Vyepti), is now commercially available in the US and can be obtained via select specialty distributors and specialty pharmacies.

The company has also developed the VYEPTI Go Patient Support Program, which is utilized to offer resources and support during a patient’s eptinezumab treatment journey. Lundbeck noted that the program will offer access to patient navigators and registered nurses via phone, 6 days per week, for information and direction to helpful resources on the agent, migraine, and intravenous (IV) administration education.

“We are pleased to announce the availability of Vyepti for migraine prevention in the US, along with a suite of online resources for patients and their healthcare providers, which we hope will be useful to learn more about this new treatment option,” said Peter Anastasiou, executive vice president, North America, Lundbeck, in a statement. “While we recognize and face the challenges of this global pandemic together, Lundbeck remains steadfast in our commitment to bring Vyepti to patients."

On February 21, 2020, the FDA approved eptinezumab for the prevention of migraine in adults, with a recommended dose of 100 mg, to be administered quarterly. The humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) ligand is currently the first and only IV treatment for migraine prevention.

Supporting data from 2 phase 3 trials (PROMISE 1 in episodic migraine and PROMISE 2 in chronic migraine), demonstrated a treatment benefit in both doses of eptinezumab (100 mg and 300 mg) over placebo as early as day 1 post-infusion.

In each trial, eptinezumab met primary end point of decrease in mean monthly migraine days (MMD) over months 1—3 in both episodic and chronic migraine, as well as a lower percentage of patients experiencing migraine for most of the first 7 days in comparison to treatment with placebo.

“It is a new era in the treatment of migraine disease. We now better understand the pathways of migraine and have a variety of innovative medicines and devices that can prevent and treat migraine attacks, including Lundbeck’s new treatment, Kevin Lenaburg, executive director for the Coalition for Headache and Migraine Patients (CHAMP), said in a statement. “I encourage everyone with migraine to talk with their healthcare provider about what option will work best for them.”

Lundbeck also announced that it has created multiple patient service programs for those who are eligible for the drug prescription. In addition to the VYETI GO Patient Support Program, the VYETI Copay Assistance Program gives eligible commercially insured patients the option to pay as little as $5 per infusion every 3 months for the treatment. VEPTI CONNECT is an optional program also created by Lundbeck that provides support throughout treatment initiation and information on financial assistance, as well as support for prior authorizations.

Healthcare providers can reach out to VYEPTI CONNECT on questions related to eptinezumab by visiting www.VYEPTIHCP.com or calling 833-4-VYEPTI and selecting option 1.

REFERENCE

Lundbeck’s VYETI (epintizumab-jjmr) quarterly treatment for migraine prevention in adults, now available in US [news release]. Deerfield, Ill: Lundbeck, April 6, 2020. Accessed April 9, 2020. biospace.com/article/releases/lundbeck-s-vyepti-eptinezumab-jjmr-quarterly-treatment-for-migraine-prevention-in-adults-now-available-in-u-s-/