Abstract
Purpose of Review
Gepants are small molecules that antagonize calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptors. Due to their favorable side effect profile and versatility in treating headaches acutely and preventively, gepants are preferred over triptans. We will cover the indications for the four FDA-approved gepants in adults: rimegepant, atogepant, ubrogepant, and zavegepant. This review will illustrate how gepants will continue to revolutionize the acute and preventive treatment of headaches.
Recent Findings
Gepants are now available in oral tablet, dissolving tablet, and intra-nasal spray formulations. Recent studies have shown promising utility in treating the pre-headache or prodromal phase. They have favorable tolerability, no evidence for association with medication overuse, and remain a safer alternative in those who have cerebrovascular risk factors. Additional research is needed to explore occurrence of Raynaud’s phenomenon in participants treated with gepants, as it has been associated with CGRP monoclonal antibodies, but are not extensively studied in gepants.
Summary
Gepants are expected to play a significant role in the next generation of migraine treatments.
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References
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Dr. Tepper received grants for research (no personal compensation) from Allergan/Abbvie, Amgen, Eli Lilly, Lundbeck, Neurolief, Novartis, Satsuma, and Zosano. He acted as a consultant and/or served on advisory boards with honoraria for Aeon, Abbvie, Alphasights, Amgen, Aruene, Atheneum, Axsome Therapeutics, Becker Pharmaceutical Consulting, BioDelivery Sciences International, Biohaven, ClearView Healthcare Partners, ClickTherapeutics, CoolTech, CRG, Decision Resources, Defined Health, DRG, Eli Lilly, ExpertConnect, FCB Health, Fenix, GLG, Guidepoint Global, Health Advances, Health Science Communications, HMP Communications, Impel, Initiatior Pharma, InteractiveForums, Keyquest, Ki Health Partners, Krog and Partners, Lundbeck, M3 Global Research, Magnolia Innovation, MJH Holdings, Miravo Healthcare, Neurofront Therapeutics, Neurolief, Novartis, P Value Communications, Pain Insights, Inc., Palion Medical, Pulmatrix, Putnam Associates, Rehaler, SAI MedPartners, Satsuma, Slingshot Insights, Spherix Global Insights, Strategy Inc, Synapse Medical Communication, System Analytic, Taylor and Francis, Tegus, Teva, Theranica, Tremeau, Trinity Partners, Unity HA, Vial, XOC, and Zosano. He received salary from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and Thomas Jefferson University. He received CME honoraria from American Academy of Neurology, American Headache Society, Annenberg Center for Health Sciences, Catamount Medical Education, Diamond Headache Clinic, Forefront Collaborative, Haymarket Medical Education, HMP Global, Medical Education Speakers Network, Medical Learning Institute Peerview, Migraine Association of Ireland, Miller Medical Education, National Association for Continuing Education, North American Center for CME, The Ohio State University, Physicians’ Education Resource, PlatformQ Education, Primed, Vindico Medical Education, and WebMD/Medscape.
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Li, D., Abreu, J. & Tepper, S.J. A Brief Review of Gepants. Curr Pain Headache Rep 27, 479–488 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-023-01142-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-023-01142-1