New Novartis data has confirmed the long-term efficacy and safety of Aimovig (erenumab) for the majority of patients with episodic migraine.

The pharma giant announced that results from a five-year open-label treatment period, which examined sustained efficacy and long-term safety of the drug, found that 77% of the patients experienced at least a 50% reduction in monthly migraine days (MMD) after 4.5 years, and 33% of patients who continued on the treatment achieved a 100% reduction, as well as 56% achieving a 75% decrease in MMD.

The additional long-term data complement Aimovig’s position as the most prescribed anti-CGRP, with more than 250,000 patients prescribed worldwide since launch.

The company says it is “pleased to see that during the OLTP, Aimovig was not only able to reduce monthly migraine days, but also decrease the number of days requiring acute migraine-specific medication” according to Estelle Vester-Blokland, global head neuroscience medical affairs.

She continued, “These 4.5-year data further add to Aimovig’s established benefit for people living with migraine. Novartis is committed to reimagining migraine care, by providing patients with an effective preventive treatment option so that they may take their lives back from this highly debilitating disease.”

Back in April, The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) accepted the drug for use in patients with chronic migraine, in whom the use of at least three other preventive medicines has been unsuccessful.

Aimovig also caused a bit of a stir earlier this year, as Amgen and Novartis sued each other in federal court over Novartis' decision to enter into a manufacturing contract with Alder BioPharmaceuticals, which is developing a potential rival to Aimovig.