Emgality vs Aimovig - how do they compare?
How does the effectiveness of Emgality and Aimovig compare?
In separate clinical trials that studied how well Emgality (galcanezumab) and Aimovig (erenumab) worked to prevent chronic migraines showed:
- Aimovig had a bigger decrease (-2.5 days) in migraine days per month compared to Emgality (-2.1 days).
- Aimovig had a bigger percentage (16.4%) of patients who had their migraines reduced by half compared to Emgality (13%).
Emgality is also indicated to treat episodic cluster headaches in adults. Aimovig does not have an FDA approved indication to treat episodic cluster headaches.
How do the side effects of Emgality and Aimovig compare?
- Aimovig has a rate of 6% for injection site reactions which is lower than Emgality injection site reactions of 18%.
- Both Aimovig and Emgality have constipation and itchy skin as side effects which affects between 1 and 10% patients.
- Aimovig has other common side effects including tiredness, cramps and muscle spasms.
- Emgality has other common side effects including anti-drug-antibodies (up to 12.5%), dizziness and welts.
Allergy to Latex?
If you are allergic to latex it is important to know that Aimovig prefilled autoinjector device and the Aimovig prefilled syringe device contain dry natural rubber which is derived from latex. You should tell your health professional if you are allergic to latex.
For the Aimovig prefilled autoinjector the part of the device that contains latex is the needle shield within the white or orange cap. For the Aimovig prefilled syringe it is the gray needle cap that contains dry natural rubber.
Table for Aimovig and Emgality
These figures are from individual drug clinical trials and not from comparison trials.
| Aimovig (erenumab) | Emgality (galcanezumab) | |
| Indications for use | Preventive treatment of migraine in adults |
Preventive treatment of migraine in adults Treatment of episodic cluster headache in adults |
| FDA approval date | 17 May 2018 - Preventive Treatment for Migraine |
27 September 2018 - Preventive Treatment of Migraine in Adults 4 June 2019 - Treatment of episodic cluster headache |
| Form | Subcutaneous injection | Subcutaneous injection |
| Dose |
Preventative migraine treatment: 70mg injected subcutaneously once monthly. |
Preventative migraine treatment: initially 240mg, then monthly 120mg subcutaneously Episodic cluster headache treatment: 300 mg (3x100mg injections) at start of cluster period and then monthly until end of cluster period |
| Half life | 28 days | 27 days |
|
Effectiveness Preventing Chronic Migraine: Decrease in monthly migraine headache days |
-2.5 days per month (Aimovig 70mg, Study 3) -2.5 days per month (Aimovig 140mg, Study 3) |
-2.1 days per month (Emgality 240mg loading dose, then 120mg monthly, Study 3) |
|
Effectiveness Preventing Chronic Migraine: Percentage of patients who had their migraines reduced by half. |
16.4% (Aimovig 70mg, Study 3) 17.7% (Aimovig 140mg, Study 3) |
13% (Emgality 240mg loading dose, then 120mg monthly, Study 3) |
| Effectiveness for Episodic Migraine: Decrease in days of migraine headache days per month | -1.0 day per month (Aimovig 70mg, Study 2) | -1.9 days per month (Emgality 240mg loading dose, then 120mg monthly, Study 1) |
| Effectiveness for Episodic Migraine: Decrease in number of days of acute migraine medicine taken per month | -0.6 of a day per month (Aimovig 70mg, Study 2) | -1.8 days per month (Emgality 240mg loading dose, then 120mg monthly, Study 1) |
| Side effects | Injection site reactions 6%, constipation, itchy skin, tiredness, cramps and muscle spasms. | Injection site reactions 18%, anti-drug-antibodies (up to 12.5%), constipation, itchy skin, dizziness and welts. |
| Allergen: latex |
Aimovig prefilled autoinjector contains latex in needle shield within the white or orange cap. Aimovig prefilled syringe contains latex in gray needle cap |
Not present |
Bottom line:
- Aimovig had a slightly bigger decrease in chronic migraine days per month and also a bigger percentage of patients had their chronic migraines reduced by half compared to Emgality.
- Emgality has more injections site reaction (18%) compared to Aimovig (6%), and both Emgality and Aimovig have a range of other side effects.
Related Questions
References
- Aimovig Medicine Information: https://www.drugs.com/pro/aimovig.html
- Emgality Medicine Information: https://www.drugs.com/pro/emgality.html
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