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NewsA new Phase 3 trial shows atogepant significantly reduces migraine days tied to menstruation. The LUNA study found patients taking the oral CGRP receptor antagonist experienced nearly three times the reduction in migraine days compared to placebo. No treatment is currently approved specifically for menstrual migraine, making these results a potential game-changer for millions of women.
Atogepant (Qulipta, AbbVie), an oral calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist already used for migraine prevention, may soon have a new indication: menstrual migraine. Topline results from the Phase 3 LUNA study show the drug significantly reduced migraine days during the perimenstrual period — and no treatment is currently approved specifically for this patient population.
In the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 468 participants took atogepant orally for 7 days (starting 3 days before menses) across three menstrual cycles. All participants had either pure menstrual migraine or menstrually related migraine, with or without aura.
Why it matters: Menstrual migraines are notoriously harder to treat, longer-lasting, and more severe than other migraines. With no approved therapies targeting this specific population, atogepant's Phase 3 results could fill a critical gap in women's neurological care. An extension study is ongoing to evaluate long-term safety and efficacy.
