Erenumab Does Not Increase Risk for Vascular Events

Erenumab was approved by the FDA in 2018 for migraine prevention. It is a humanized monoclonal antibody against the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor. Because CGRP is a potent vasodilator, CGRP antagonism has a theoretical risk for precipitating or worsening ischemic events in patients with vascular disease. To determine if there was a higher rate of vascular adverse events (AEs) in patients taking erenumab than in patients on placebo, researchers examined data from four double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of migraine prevention and their open-label extensions. They focused on vascular AEs and the effect of erenumab on blood pressure. Subgroup analyses were conducted by acute migraine-specific medication use and the numbe…