Pfizer's Novel CGRP Receptor Antagonist Rimegepant Orally Disintegrating Tablets Launches in Beijing, Marking a New Era in Migraine-Specific Therapy

Recently, Pfizer's全新一代特异性偏头痛治疗药物瑞美吉泮口崩片, approved by the National Medical Products Administration just 43 days prior, has been率先落地 at the General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army. It is currently being rapidly introduced for clinical use in major hospitals across China, with the first prescriptions already being issued, accelerating access for a wide range of migraine patients and advancing the treatment of migraines in China into a new era of specific oral targeted therapies.

Migraine is a common and disabling disease, characterized by high prevalence, significant disability, and a heavy disease burden, and has become one of the major public health issues globally. Its symptoms are typically recurrent, often presenting as unilateral, moderate to severe pulsating headaches, usually lasting 4-72 hours, and frequently accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and phonophobia. Long-term repeated attacks lead to serious health loss, reduced quality of life, and loss of productivity. Additionally, migraines are often associated with various complications, such as anxiety, depression, cerebrovascular disease, and sleep disorders, resulting in an immense disease burden.

However, the treatment of migraines in the past has had significant limitations in terms of efficacy and safety. Not only is there insufficient treatment response and a high likelihood of symptom recurrence, but patients also face risks such as the potential for chronic headaches and medication-overuse headaches from long-term use of painkillers, as well as contraindications for patients with cardiovascular diseases. Acute treatment of migraines urgently requires specific therapeutic approaches with good efficacy and safety.

"According to the widely recognized viewpoint at present, migraine is classified as a brain dysfunction disease rather than a vascular disease. Migraine is associated with the trigeminal nerve and is mainly caused by neurogenic inflammation, primarily in the meninges. The release of neuropeptides such as calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) leads to the exudation of inflammatory factors, which in turn triggers a pain response. This pain, in turn, reactivates the trigeminal nerve, forming a vicious cycle known as the trigeminovascular reflex." Introduced by Professor Yu Shengyuan, Director of the Department of Neurology at the PLA General Hospital and President of the Neurology Physicians Association of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association.
Professor Yu Shengyuan also pointed out that innovative drugs targeting calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), such as Rimegepant, can alleviate migraine symptoms by blocking the binding of the aforementioned neurotransmitter to its receptor. CGRP represents humanity's proactive challenge against headaches — developing corresponding drugs based on the mechanism of CGRP for interventional treatment.

As the world's first and only calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist utilizing patented orally disintegrating tablet technology, Rimegepant showed positive results in key trials conducted in China. It effectively blocks critical pathways associated with migraine attacks, providing rapid and sustained relief from headache and related symptoms. Its administration is convenient, with no contraindications or effects related to cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, Rimegepant orally disintegrating tablets have been recommended by migraine guidelines in the United States, Europe, and China.

As the first prescription of the innovative new-generation migraine-specific treatment drug Rimegepant Orodispersible Tablets has been issued at the PLA General Hospital, it will gradually become available across China, bringing new hope for migraine patients to return to a healthy life.