← The record

GalcanezumabEmgality

Noted NeurologyRestrictedLater-line line 💬 consumer voice

Treatment-resistant high frequency episodic migraine (8 to <15 migraine headache days per month) in adults who have inadequate response, intolerance, or contraindication to at least three prophylactic migraine medications.

4
Submissions
2 resub
2019–22
On the record
Redacted
ICER range
commercial-in-confidence
Redacted
Cost basis
risk sharing

Decisions on record

5 decisions
  • Meeting Jul 2025 Noted Treatment-resistant high frequency episodic migraine no PSD
  • Meeting Mar 2022 Recommended Migraine
  • Meeting Nov 2020 Not recommended Episodic migraine
  • Meeting Nov 2020 Noted Chronic migraine
  • Meeting Jul 2019 Recommended Chronic migraine

Access path

4 submissions · public record
  1. TGA registered · Emgality

    TGA label narrower than the PBS population

  2. Jul 2019
    Recommended · restricted

    vs botulinum toxin type A (Botox)

  3. Nov 2020
    Recommended · restricted

    Comparator changed: botulinum toxin type A (Botox) → botulinum toxin (Botox)

  4. Nov 2020
    Not recommended

    Comparator changed: botulinum toxin type A (Botox) → botulinum toxin (Botox)

  5. ↻ resubmitted
    Mar 2022
    Recommended · restricted

    Listing: Authority Required → Restricted

  6. PBS listing · Restricted
RecommendedDeferredNot recommended

From the public summary

Verbatim · PSD text · may span indications
PBAC outcome
The PBAC recommended amending the current PBS listing of galcanezumab for chronic migraine to include the treatment of patients with high frequency episodic migraine by removing the criteria for patients to have an average of 15 or more headache days per month.PSD · Mar 2022
The PBAC noted the consumer comments and acknowledged there was a clinical need for broader access to CGRP inhibitors to increase the treatment options for people with treatment-resistant high frequency episodic migraine.PSD · Mar 2022
Economic analysis
The resubmission presented a stepped economic evaluation of galcanezumab compared to placebo (as a proxy for best supportive care), in patients with high frequency episodic migraine who have an inadequate response, intolerance or a contraindication to at least three prior prophylactic migraine medications.PSD · Mar 2022
A summary of the model structure and key inputs is presented in the table below. The model structure was unchanged from the November 2020 submission. 14PSD · Mar 2022
Clinical claim
best supportive care in terms of efficacy and similar in terms of safety. Source: Table 1.2.1, p29 of the resubmission.PSD · Mar 2022
Underlined text indicates key changes from the November 2020 submission.PSD · Mar 2022
Consumer comments
The PBAC noted and welcomed the input from individuals (30) and organisations (2) via the Consumer Comments facility on the PBS website. The comments described the benefit of treatment with galcanezumab including reduction in number and severity of migraines, reduced use of acute medications, improvement in quality of life and the 6PSD · Mar 2022
The PBAC noted the advice received from Migraine & Headache Australia that the disease burden for patients with high frequency episodic migraine is very similar to that of patients with chronic migraine. The advice noted the devastating impacts on quality of life, ability to work and livelihood for people living with migraine and the significant benefits of treatment with the CGRP antibodies.PSD · Mar 2022

Cost-effectiveness

ICER values are redacted (commercial-in-confidence) in the public summary document.

ICER uncertainICER / price too highEconomic model disputed

Decision context

PopulationAdult patients with high frequency episodic migraine (8 to <15 migraine headache days per month with <15 total headache days per month) who have inadequate response, intolerance, or contraindication to at least three prior prophylactic migraine medications.

Risk sharingRisk-sharing arrangement (RSA) with combined caps for chronic migraine and high frequency episodic migraine proposed.

Submission history

4 entries
DecidedOutcomeComparatorICEREvidence
Mar 2022 Recommended · restricted best supportive care RCT · Reduction in migraine headache days
Nov 2020 Recommended · restricted botulinum toxin (Botox) Cost-minimisation · Cost-minimisation
Nov 2020 Not recommended best supportive care RCT · ≥50% responder rate
Jul 2019 Recommended · restricted botulinum toxin type A (Botox) RCT · Other

Clinical evidence

Trials cited in the PSDs · ClinicalTrials.gov
TrialPhaseNPrimary outcomeStatus
REGAIN Ph 3 1,117 Overall Mean Change From Baseline in the Number of Monthly Migraine Headache Days (MHD) completed
CONQUER Ph 3 463 Overall Mean Change From Baseline in the Number of Monthly Migraine Headache Days completed

Consumer voice

Mar 2022

Consumers and patient organisations reported that galcanezumab treatment reduced migraine frequency and severity, improved quality of life, and enabled self-administration. They requested GP prescribing access to overcome neurologist appointment challenges and noted the severe disease burden and quality-of-life impacts of migraine.

The comments described the benefit of treatment with galcanezumab including reduction in number and severity of migraines, reduced use of acute medications, improvement in quality of life and the ability to self-administer. Consumer comments · PSD
quality of lifereduction in symptom severitytreatment burdenaccess barriersunmet needtreatment convenience

Similar precedents

By decision profile

Regulatory · TGA

Label narrower than PBS population — PBAC restricts to treatment-resistant high frequency episodic migraine (8–<15 days/month) with failure of ≥3 prior prophylactic medications; TGA label covers all migraine prophylaxis in adults.