Novel Oral CGRP Receptor Antagonist Atogepant in the Prevention of Migraine

Advancements in molecular biology and neuroscience have uncovered calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a neuropeptide consisting of thirty-seven amino acids that plays a crucial role in migraine pathogenesis. CGRP receptor antagonist or gepant is an oral medication that can impede the nociceptive signaling pathway related to CGRP. Atogepant, the latest CGRP antagonist approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for prophylaxis of episodic migraine, works by non-competitively blocking CGRP receptors, thereby curtailing neurogenic inflammation and pain sensitization. Numerous trials have demonstrated that atogepant is an effective therapy for migraine prevention, with its extended half-life and minimal risks of cardiovascular or liver toxicity making it the first drug in its class primarily authorized for that purpose. In terms of monthly migraine days, monthly headache days, and acute medication usage days, atogepant demonstrated a statistically significant difference from baseline. It was well-tolerated with low adverse event rates. The most commonly reported adverse events were constipation and nausea. Atogepant appears to be beneficial for migraine prevention, and it may be more useful in those who do not want to take the medication as an injection or who do not require a lengthy duration of pharmacological impact. In this article, we provide a systematic review of the literature on atogepant and migraine, emphasizing current achievements in this field of study.