Role of CGRP pathway polymorphisms in migraine: a systematic review and impact on CGRP mAbs migraine therapy

Plasma pQTL and brain eQTL integration identifies PNKP as a therapeutic target and reveals mechanistic insights into migraine pathophysiology

BACKGROUND

Migraine is a prevalent neurological disorder affecting 14.1% of the global population. Despite advances in genetic research, further investigation is needed to identify therapeutic targets and better understand its mechanisms. In this study, we aimed to identify drug targets and explore the relationships between gene expression, protein levels, and migraine pathophysiology.

METHODS

We utilized cis-pQTL data from deCODE Genetics, combined with migraine GWAS data from the GERA + UKB cohort as the discovery cohort and the FinnGen R10 cohort as the replication cohort. SMR and MR analyses identified migraine-associated protein loci. Brain eQTL data from GTEx v8 and BrainMeta v2 were used to explore causal relationships between gene expression, protein levels, and migraine risk. Mediation analysis assessed the role of metabolites, and PheWAS evaluated potential side effects.

RESULTS

Four loci were identified: PNKP, MRVI1, CALCB, and INPP5B. PNKP and MRVI1 showed a high level of evidence and opposing effects at the gene and protein levels. PNKP gene expression in certain brain regions was protective against migraine, while its plasma protein levels were positively associated with migraine risk. MRVI1 showed protective effects at the protein level but had the opposite effect at the gene expression level. Mediation analysis revealed that the glutamate to pyruvate ratio and 3-CMPFP mediated PNKP's effects on migraine. PheWAS indicated associations between PNKP and body composition traits, suggesting drug safety considerations.

CONCLUSION

PNKP and MRVI1 exhibit dual mechanisms of action at the gene and protein levels, potentially involving distinct mechanistic pathways. Among them, PNKP emerges as a promising drug target for migraine treatment, supported by multi-layered validation.

The impact of genetic factors on the response to migraine therapy

Migraine is a multidimensional disease affecting a large portion of the human population presenting with a variety of symptoms. In the era of personalized medicine, successful migraine treatment presents a challenge, as several studies have shown the impact of a patient's genetic profile on therapy response. However, with the emergence of contemporary treatment options, there is promise for improved outcomes. A literature search was conducted in PubMed and Scopus, in order to obtain studies investigating the impact of genetic factors on migraine therapy outcome. Overall, 23 studies were included in the current review, exhibiting diversity in the treatments used and the genetic variants investigated. Divergent genes were assessed for each category of migraine treatment. Several genetic factors were identified to contribute to the heterogeneous response to treatment. SNPs related to pharmacodynamic receptors, pharmacogenetics and migraine susceptibility loci were the most investigated variants, revealing some interesting significant results. To date, various associations have been recorded correlating the impact of genetic factors on migraine treatment responses. More extensive research needs to take place with the aim of shedding light on the labyrinthine effects of genetic variations on migraine treatment, and, consequently, these findings can promptly affect migraine treatment and improve migraine patients' life quality in the vision of precise medicine.

Clinical and Market Analysis of NanoBEO: A Public-Worth, Innovative Therapy for Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD)-Emerging Evidence and Its Implications for a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and Decision-Making in National Health Systems

BACKGROUND

According to scientific literature, some 99% of patients affected by Alzheimer's disease (AD) suffer from behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), also known as neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSs). In particular, agitation is one of the most difficult disorders to treat. States of agitation represent a very serious problem as they make these subjects dangerous for themselves and others and worsen as the disease advances. To date, there are no specific solutions for treating agitation. The only authorized drug is risperidone (as well as brexpiprazole, approved by the FDA on 11 May 2023), which can be used for no longer than 6-12 weeks because it increases the risk of death-owing to cardiocerebrovascular accidents-by 1.6-1.7 times.

METHODS

In order to address the latter noteworthy unmet medical need, NanoBEO was produced. The aim of the present work is to generate the health technology assessment (HTA) of this nanotechnological device. The latter consists of a controlled release system, based on solid lipid nanoparticles loaded with bergamot essential oil (BEO).

RESULTS

The results of the present research assessed the current evidence in the field of non-pharmacological treatments for this condition, including relevant primary preclinical and clinical data studies supporting the use of this device and the production of the operative plan for its launch on the market. The findings offer recommendations for decision-making on its implementation in dementia.

CONCLUSIONS

NanoBEO represents a public-worth innovation in this neglected area, marking a significant advancement in the history of dementia, moving from academic research to product development.

Pan-cancer analysis revealed prognosis value and immunological relevance of RAMPs

Whether receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs) play a key role in human cancer prognosis and immunity remains unknown. We used data from the public databases, The Cancer Genome Atlas, Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments, and the Genotype-Tissue Expression project. We utilized bioinformatics methods, R software, and a variety of online databases to analyze RAMPs. In general, RAMPs were significantly and differentially expressed in multiple tumors, and RAMP expression was closely associated with prognosis, immune checkpoints, RNA-editing genes, tumor mutational burden, microsatellite instability, ploidy, and stemness indices. In addition, the expression of RAMPs is strongly correlated with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in human cancers. Moreover, the RAMP co-expression network is largely involved in many immune-related biological processes. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot proved that RAMP3 was highly expressed in glioma, and RAMP3 promoted tumor proliferation and migration. RAMPs exhibit potential as prognostic and immune-related biomarkers in human cancers. Moreover, RAMPs can be potentially developed as therapeutic targets or used to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy.

Exploitation of Autophagy Inducers in the Management of Dementia: A Systematic Review

The social burden of dementia is remarkable since it affects some 57.4 million people all over the world. Impairment of autophagy in age-related diseases, such as dementia, deserves deep investigation for the detection of novel disease-modifying approaches. Several drugs belonging to different classes were suggested to be effective in managing Alzheimer's disease (AD) by means of autophagy induction. Useful autophagy inducers in AD should be endowed with a direct, measurable effect on autophagy, have a safe tolerability profile, and have the capability to cross the blood-brain barrier, at least with poor penetration. According to the PRISMA 2020 recommendations, we propose here a systematic review to appraise the measurable effectiveness of autophagy inducers in the improvement of cognitive decline and neuropsychiatric symptoms in clinical trials and retrospective studies. The systematic search retrieved 3067 records, 10 of which met the eligibility criteria. The outcomes most influenced by the treatment were cognition and executive functioning, pointing at a role for metformin, resveratrol, masitinib and TPI-287, with an overall tolerable safety profile. Differences in sample power, intervention, patients enrolled, assessment, and measure of outcomes prevents generalization of results. Moreover, the domain of behavioral symptoms was found to be less investigated, thus prompting new prospective studies with homogeneous design. PROSPERO registration: CRD42023393456.

Combination of anti-CGRP/CGRP-R mAbs with onabotulinumtoxin A as a novel therapeutic approach for refractory chronic migraine: a retrospective study of real-world clinical evidence and a protocol for a double-blind, randomized clinical trial to establish the efficacy and safety

Chronic migraine is a disabling neurovascular disorder that ranks amongst the top causes of years lived with disability worldwide. The duration and the frequency of migraine affect cognitive and affective domains, inducing worsening of memory, executive functions, orientation and causing anxiety. Population-based studies report a worrying level of resistance to treatments. Therefore, this study aims: 1) to assess efficacy of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed towards the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) or its receptor (CGRP-R) for chronic migraine resistant to current preventatives; 2) to design a clinical trial protocol to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination therapy utilizing anti-CGRP/CGRP-R together with onabotulinumtoxin A in patients suffering from resistant chronic migraine; 3) to provide a molecular rationale for combination therapy. A controlled trial is warranted as pooled analysis of real-world data from our group highlighted that combined treatment provides ≥50% reduction vs. baseline (onabotulinumtoxin A) of monthly headache days (MHDs) in up to 58.8% of patients, but there has been only sparse application of this combined therapy to date. The mAbs chosen are: erenumab, because its combination effect with onabotulinumtoxin A improved symptoms in 65% of patients; eptinezumab, due to its faster action. The results highlight that early diagnosis of migraine improves therapeutic outcomes with mAbs alone, confirming their effectiveness and the need for an adequately powered clinical trial evaluating the safety and potential superior effectiveness of eptinezumab/erenumab and onabotulinumtoxin A together.

Real-life experiences with galcanezumab and predictors for treatment response in Turkey

BACKGROUND

The complexity of clinical practice extends far beyond the controlled settings of trials, and there is a need for real-world studies aimed at identifying which patients will respond to anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies in different countries. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of galcanezumab in treating migraine in a real-life setting in Turkey, as well as identify predictors of treatment response.

METHODS

A total of 476 patients who diagnosed with migraine according to ICHD-3 criteria and treated with galcanezumab by headache specialists were voluntarily participated in this cross-sectional study. Galcanezumab is indicated for the prevention of migraine in adults who have at least 4 monthly migraine days in Turkey. All patients filled out a survey on Google Form that comprised 54 questions, addressing various aspects such as demographics, migraine characteristics, previous use of acute symptomatic medication, failures with preventive drug classes, comorbidities, most bothersome symptoms, as well as the interictal burden of migraine.

RESULTS

Among the participants, 89.3% reported that galcanezumab treatment was beneficial for them. A decrease in the frequency (80.0%), severity (85.7%), and acute medication usage for migraine attacks (71.4%) was reported with galcanezumab treatment. An adverse effect related to galcanezumab was reported in 16.3% of cases, but no serious adverse reactions were observed. Remarkably, 14.3% of participants reported no longer experiencing any headaches, and 18.9% did not require any acute treatment while receiving galcanezumab treatment. A logistic regression model showed that male gender, lack of ictal nausea, and previous failure of more than 2 prophylactic agents may predict the non-responders.

CONCLUSIONS

The first large series from Turkey showed that galcanezumab treatment is safe and effective in most of the patients diagnosed with migraine by headache experts in the real-life setting. Patients reported a significant decrease in both ictal and interictal burden of migraine and expressed satisfaction with this treatment.

Effect of genotype on individual response to the pharmacological treatment of glaucoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The social impact of glaucoma is worth of note: primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide, affecting some 68.56 million people with overall prevalence of 2.4%. Since one of the main risk factors for the development of POAG is the increase of intraocular pressure (IOP) causing retinal ganglion cells death, the medical treatment of POAG consists in the use of drugs endowed with neuroprotective effect and able to reduce IOP. These drugs include beta-blockers, prostaglandin analogues, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, alpha or cholinergic agonists and rho kinase inhibitors. However, not all the patients respond to the same extent to the therapy in terms of efficacy and safety. Genetics and genome wide association studies have highlighted the occurrence of mutations and polymorphisms influencing the predisposition to develop POAG and its phenotype, as well as affecting the response to pharmacological treatment. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aims at identifying genetic variants and at verifying whether these can influence the responsiveness of patients to therapy for efficacy and safety. It follows the most updated Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 recommendations. The literature search was conducted consulting the most relevant scientific databases, i.e. PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science and Public Health Genomics and Precision Health Knowledge Base up to June 14th, 2023. The search retrieved 1026 total records, among which eight met the eligibility criteria for inclusion in the analysis. The results demonstrated that the most investigated pharmacogenetic associations concern latanoprost and timolol, and that efficacy was studied more in depth than safety. Moreover, the heterogeneity of design and paucity of studies prompt further investigation in randomized clinical trials. In fact, adequately powered and designed pharmacogenetic association studies are needed to provide body of evidence with good certainty for a more appropriate use of medical therapy in POAG.PROSPERO registration: CRD42023434867.

Mode and site of action of therapies targeting CGRP signaling

Targeting CGRP has proved to be efficacious, tolerable, and safe to treat migraine; however, many patients with migraine do not benefit from drugs that antagonize the CGRPergic system. Therefore, this review focuses on summarizing the general pharmacology of the different types of treatments currently available, which target directly or indirectly the CGRP receptor or its ligand. Moreover, the latest evidence regarding the selectivity and site of action of CGRP small molecule antagonists (gepants) and monoclonal antibodies is critically discussed. Finally, the reasons behind non-responders to anti-CGRP drugs and rationale for combining and/or switching between these therapies are addressed.

Blocking the CGRP Receptor: Differences across Human Vascular Beds

Multiple drugs targeting the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor have been developed for the treatment of migraine. Here, the effect of the small-molecule CGRP receptor antagonist zavegepant (0.1 nM-1 µM) on CGRP-induced relaxation in isolated human coronary arteries (HCAs) was investigated. A Schild plot was constructed and a pA2 value was calculated to determine the potency of zavegepant. The potency and Schild plot slopes of atogepant, olcegepant, rimegepant, telcagepant, ubrogepant and zavegepant in HCAs and human middle meningeal arteries (HMMAs), obtained from our earlier studies, were compared. Zavegepant shifted the concentration-response curve to CGRP in HCAs. The corresponding Schild plot slope was not different from unity, resulting in a pA2 value of 9.92 ± 0.24. No potency difference between HCAs and HMMAs was observed. Interestingly, olcegepant, atogepant and rimegepant, with a Schild plot slope < 1 in HCAs, were all >1 log unit more potent in HMMAs than in HCAs, while telcagepant, ubrogepant and zavegepant, with a Schild plot slope not different from unity, showed similar (<1 log difference) potency across both tissues. As a Schild plot slope < 1 may point to the involvement of multiple receptors, it is important to further identify the receptors involved in the relaxation to CGRP in HCAs, which may be used to improve the cardiovascular safety of future antimigraine drugs.

Safety of Onabotulinumtoxin A in Chronic Migraine: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials

Some 14% of global prevalence, based on high-income country populations, suffers from migraine. Chronic migraine is very disabling, being characterized by at least 15 headache days per month of which at least 8 days present the features of migraine. Onabotulinumtoxin A, targeting the machinery for exocytosis of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides, has been approved for use in chronic migraine since 2010. This systematic review and meta-analysis appraises the safety of onabotulinumtoxin A treatment for chronic migraine and the occurrence of treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) in randomized, clinical studies in comparison with placebo or other comparators and preventative treatments according to the most updated Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 recommendations. The search retrieved 888 total records. Nine studies are included and seven were eligible for meta-analysis. The present study demonstrates that toxin produces more TRAEs than placebo, but less than oral topiramate, supporting the safety of onabotulinumtoxin A, and highlights the heterogeneity of the studies present in the literature (I2 = 96%; p < 0.00001). This points to the need for further, adequately powered, randomized clinical trials assessing the safety of onabotulinumtoxin A in combination with the newest treatment options.

Efficacy of Essential Oils in Relieving Cancer Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Over 80% of patients affected by cancer develops cancer-related pain, one of the most feared consequences because of its intractable nature, particularly in the terminal stage of the disease. Recent evidence-based recommendations on integrative medicine for the management of cancer pain underline the role of natural products. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aims at appraising for the first time the efficacy of aromatherapy in cancer pain in clinical studies with different design according to the most updated Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 recommendations. The search retrieves 1002 total records. Twelve studies are included and six are eligible for meta-analysis. The present study demonstrates significant efficacy of the use of essential oils in the reduction of the intensity of pain associated with cancer (p < 0.00001), highlighting the need for earlier, more homogeneous, and appropriately designed clinical trials. Good certainty body of evidence is needed for effective and safe management of cancer-related pain using essential oils by establishment of a step-by-step preclinical-to-clinical pathway to provide a rational basis for clinical use in integrative oncology. PROSPERO registration: CRD42023393182.

Response to erenumab assessed by Headache Impact Test-6 is modulated by genetic factors and arterial hypertension: An explorative cohort study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Response predictors to erenumab (ERE) in migraine patients would benefit their clinical management. We investigate associations between patients' clinical characteristics and polymorphisms at calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CALCRL) and receptor activity-modifying protein 1 (RAMP1) genes and response to ERE treatment measured as clinically meaningful improvement on the Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6) score.

METHODS

This post hoc analysis of a prospective, multicenter, investigator-initiated study involves 110 migraine patients starting ERE 70 mg/month. Demographics, medical history, and migraine-related burden measured by HIT-6 score were collected during 3 months before and after ERE start. Selected polymorphic variants of CALCRL and RAMP1 genes were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Logistic regression models identified independent predictors for response to ERE, defined as HIT-6 score improvement ≥ 8 points (HIT-6 responders [HIT-6 RESP] vs. HIT-6 nonresponders).

RESULTS

At Month 3, 58 (52.7%) patients were HIT-6 RESP. Comorbid hypertension predicted a lower probability of being HIT-6 RESP (odds ratio [OR] = 0.160, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.047-0.548, p = 0.003). Compared to major alleles, minor alleles CALCRL rs6710852G and RAMP rs6431564G conferred an increased probability of being HIT-6 RESP (for each G allele: OR = 2.82, 95% CI = 1.03-7.73, p = 0.043; OR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.05-4.22, p = 0.037). RAMP1 rs13386048A and RAMP1 rs12465864G decreased this probability (for each rs13386048A, OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.28-0.98, p = 0.042; for each rs12465864G, OR = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.13-0.75, p = 0.009). A genetic risk score based on the presence and number of identified risk alleles was independently associated with HIT-6 RESP (OR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.33-0.72, p = 0.0003), surviving Bonferroni correction.

CONCLUSIONS

Response to ERE was associated with comorbid hypertension and specific allelic variants in CALCRL and RAMP1 genes. Results require confirmation in future studies.

CGRP physiology, pharmacology, and therapeutic targets: migraine and beyond

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a neuropeptide with diverse physiological functions. Its two isoforms (α and β) are widely expressed throughout the body in sensory neurons as well as in other cell types, such as motor neurons and neuroendocrine cells. CGRP acts via at least two G protein-coupled receptors that form unusual complexes with receptor activity-modifying proteins. These are the CGRP receptor and the AMY1 receptor; in rodents, additional receptors come into play. Although CGRP is known to produce many effects, the precise molecular identity of the receptor(s) that mediates CGRP effects is seldom clear. Despite the many enigmas still in CGRP biology, therapeutics that target the CGRP axis to treat or prevent migraine are a bench-to-bedside success story. This review provides a contextual background on the regulation and sites of CGRP expression and CGRP receptor pharmacology. The physiological actions of CGRP in the nervous system are discussed, along with updates on CGRP actions in the cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, immune, hematopoietic, and reproductive systems and metabolic effects of CGRP in muscle and adipose tissues. We cover how CGRP in these systems is associated with disease states, most notably migraine. In this context, we discuss how CGRP actions in both the peripheral and central nervous systems provide a basis for therapeutic targeting of CGRP in migraine. Finally, we highlight potentially fertile ground for the development of additional therapeutics and combinatorial strategies that could be designed to modulate CGRP signaling for migraine and other diseases.

New Migraine Drugs for Older Adults

Migraine is one of the most widespread and burdensome diseases, affecting one in every seven individuals in the world, for an estimated global prevalence of 14%. Until recently, therapeutic choices for older migraineurs have been limited by safety concerns and such patients have typically been excluded from clinical trials. However, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of new migraine drugs have begun to include participants aged over 65 years, offering clinicians relevant safety and efficacy data to be able to treat older patients with the newest drug classes, including monoclonal antibodies for CGRP (r), CGRP antagonists, and drugs targeting the serotonin 5-HT_1F receptor. RCT inclusion criteria nonetheless select the most appropriate older patients, usually excluding polymorbid participants. In a real-life setting, older patients may have several comorbidities, and this reduces the clinical applicability of the new drugs to these patients. Two main points should be addressed to solve this barrier: the inclusion of a sufficient number of migraineurs aged over 65 years in RCTs and the publication of appropriate guidelines for a tailored treatment that considers the existence of multimorbid pathologies in this population of individuals.

Focus on zavegepant: the first intranasal third-generation gepant

Migraine is the leading cause of years lived with disability in people under 50 and its burden is increased by calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-driven chronicity. Newly approved small molecules that antagonize the CGRP receptor, gepants, have advanced from the hepatotoxic first-generation telcagepant to third-generation intranasal zavegepant; during this process of drug development, rimegepant, ubrogepant and atogepant, which are orally administered, have been launched and approved for clinical use with no warning for hepatotoxicity. Real-world, long-term postmarketing data about the efficacy and safety of gepants are awaited. The aim of the present drug evaluation study was to provide an overview of the novel, third-generation intranasal Zavegepant, encompassing its development and future perspectives.

A narrative review of the calcitonin peptide family and associated receptors as migraine targets: Calcitonin gene-related peptide and beyond

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the pharmacology of the calcitonin peptide family of receptors and explore their relationship to migraine and current migraine therapies.

BACKGROUND

Therapeutics that dampen calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) signaling are now in clinical use to prevent or treat migraine. However, CGRP belongs to a broader peptide family, including the peptides amylin and adrenomedullin. Receptors for this family are complex, displaying overlapping pharmacologic profiles. Despite the focus on CGRP and the CGRP receptor in migraine research, recent evidence implicates related peptides and receptors in migraine.

METHODS

This narrative review summarizes literature encompassing the current pharmacologic understanding of the calcitonin peptide family, and the evidence that links specific members of this family to migraine and migraine-like behaviors.

RESULTS

Recent work links amylin and adrenomedullin to migraine-like behavior in rodent models and migraine-like attacks in individuals with migraine. We collate novel information that suggests females may be more sensitive to amylin and CGRP in the context of migraine-like behaviors. We report that drugs designed to antagonize the canonical CGRP receptor also antagonize a second CGRP-responsive receptor and speculate as to whether this influences therapeutic efficacy. We also discuss the specificity of current drugs with regards to CGRP isoforms and how this may influence therapeutic profiles. Lastly, we emphasize that receptors related to, but distinct from, the canonical CGRP receptor may represent underappreciated and novel drug targets.

CONCLUSION

Multiple peptides within the calcitonin family have been linked to migraine. The current focus on CGRP and its canonical receptor may be obscuring pathways to further therapeutics. Drug discovery schemes that take a wider view of the receptor family may lead to the development of new anti-migraine drugs with favorable clinical profiles. We also propose that understanding these related peptides and receptors may improve our interpretation regarding the mechanism of action of current drugs.

Effects of Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) on Nociceptive, Musculoskeletal and Neuropathic Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Evidence

Some 30−50% of the global population and almost 20% of the European population actually suffer from chronic pain, which presents a tremendous burden to society when this pain turns into a disability and hospitalization. Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) has been demonstrated to improve pain in preclinical contexts, but an appraisal of clinical evidence is still lacking. The present study aimed at addressing the working hypothesis for the efficacy of PEA for nociceptive musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain in the clinical setting. The systematic search, selection and analysis were performed in agreement with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 recommendations. The primary outcome was pain reduction, as measured by a pain assessment scale. The secondary outcome was improvement in quality of life and/or of parameters of function. The results obtained for a total of 933 patients demonstrate the efficacy of PEA over the control (p < 0.00001), in particular in six studies apart from the two randomized, double-blind clinical trials included. However, the results are downgraded due to the high heterogeneity of the studies (I2 = 99%), and the funnel plot suggests publication bias. Efficacy in achieving a reduction in the need for rescue medications and improvement in functioning, neuropathic symptoms and quality of life are reported. Therefore, adequately powered randomized, double-blind clinical trials are needed to deepen the domains of efficacy of add-on therapy with PEA for chronic pain. PROSPERO registration: CRD42022314395.

Analgesic Characteristics of NanoBEO Released by an Airless Dispenser for the Control of Agitation in Severe Dementia

Chronic pain is one of the most common causes of the need for clinical evaluation, acquiring more importance in the elderly with cognitive impairment. Reduced self-reporting capabilities cause unrelieved pain contributing to the development of agitation. Safe and effective pain treatment can afford the management of agitation without the serious increase in death risk associated with neuroleptics. To this aim, the essential oil of bergamot (BEO), proven by rigorous evidence to have strong preclinical anti-nociceptive and anti-allodynic properties, has been engineered (NanoBEO, patent EP 4003294) to allow randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (BRAINAID, NCT04321889). The present study: (1) assesses the analgesic effects of a single therapeutic dose of NanoBEO, as supplied by an airless dispenser for clinical translation, in models of inflammatory, neuropathic, and sensitization types of pain relevant to clinic; (2) provides a dose-response analysis of the efficacy of NanoBEO on scratching behavior, a typical behavioral disturbance occurring in dementia. A single therapeutic dose of NanoBEO confirms efficacy following thirty minutes pre-treatment with capsaicin and on the central sensitization phase induced by formalin. Moreover, it has an ID50 of 0.6312 mg and it is efficacious on static and dynamic mechanical allodynia. Altogether, the gathered results strengthen the potential of NanoBEO for clinical management of pain and agitation.

Pooled Analysis of Real-World Evidence Supports Anti-CGRP mAbs and OnabotulinumtoxinA Combined Trial in Chronic Migraine

OnabotulinumtoxinA, targeting the CGRP machinery, has been approved for the last two decades for chronic migraine prevention. The recently approved monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed towards the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) pathway open a new age for chronic migraine control. However, some 40% patients suffering from chronic migraine is still resistant to treatment. The aim of this work is to answer the following PICOS (participants intervention comparator outcome study design) question: Is there evidence of efficacy and safety of the combined administration of anti-CGRP mAbs and onabotulinumtoxinA in chronic migraine? A systematic review and meta-analysis [Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 recommendations] was made up to 19 April 2022. The results are encouraging: the combined treatment proved to afford ≥50% monthly headache days (MHDs)/frequency reduction respect to baseline in up to 58.8% of patients; in comparison, anti-CGRP mAbs reduce MHDs of 1.94 days from baseline and botulinum toxin of 1.86 days. Our study demonstrates for the first time that the combination therapy of onabotulinumtoxinA with anti-CGRP mAbs affords a reduction of 2.67 MHDs with respect to onabotulinumtoxinA alone, with moderate certainty of evidence. Adequately powered, good-quality studies are needed to confirm the response to combination therapy in terms of efficacy and safety. PROSPERO registration: CRD42022313640.

Pharmacological Treatment of Pain and Agitation in Severe Dementia and Responsiveness to Change of the Italian Mobilization–Observation–Behavior–Intensity–Dementia (I-MOBID2) Pain Scale: Study Protocol

Up to 80% of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients in nursing homes experiences chronic pain and 97% develops fluctuant neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS). Agitation, associated with unrelieved pain, is managed through antipsychotics and may increase the risk of death. Evidence is accumulating in favor of analgesia for a safer, effective therapy of agitation. The Italian version of Mobilization–Observation–Behavior–Intensity–Dementia, I-MOBID2, recently validated in the Italian setting, shows: good scale content validity index (0.89), high construct validity (Spearman rank-order correlation Rho = 0.748), reliable internal consistency (Cronbach’s α coefficient = 0.751), good-excellent inter-rater (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC = 0.778) and test-retest (ICC = 0.902) reliability, and good inter-rater and test-retest agreement (Cohen’s K = 0.744) with 5.8 min completion time. This study intends to identify the responsiveness of the I-MOBID2 based on COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) recommendations, assessing the a priori hypotheses of (1) the efficacy of painkillers administered to severe AD patients after proper pain assessment and (2) the effect of reduction of the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) score and of agitation rescue medications. This protocol is approved by Calabria Region Ethics Committee protocol No. 31/2017 and follows the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) guidelines.

Real world considerations for newly approved CGRP receptor antagonists in migraine care

INTRODUCTION

Migraine is the leading cause of years lived with disability in people under 50 . Electrophysiological phenomena at the basis of prodromal and headache attack phases and of chronification processes involve calcitonin-gene related peptide (CGRP) as a fundamental player become a game changer of migraine pharmacotherapy.Areas covered: The purpose of the present review is to retrace fundamental stages of CGRP from its discovery to the role in migraine pathogenesis and therapy to underscore the change of paradigm offered by the newly approved small molecules to antagonize CGRP receptor, the gepants. In particular, the development of this new class is gone over from the initial synthesis of C-terminus truncated CGRP antagonists to the development of the first generation of gepants ending with Zavegepant that can be considered the third generation.Expert opinion: The history of CGRP in migraine draws the successful road to follow for key signaling pathways of modulation of nociceptive facilitation by diencephalic and brainstem nuclei, including dopaminergic neurotransmission, orexin A and the large-conductance calcium-activated potassium (BK_Ca) and ATP-sensitive potassium (K_ATP) channels also investigating the potential of essential oils and the role of polymorphisms. Real-world post marketing long-term data are needed for gepants.

Pharmacogenetics in Primary Headache Disorders

Primary headache disorders, such as migraine, tension-type headache (TTH), and cluster headache, belong to the most common neurological disorders affecting a high percentage of people worldwide. Headache induces a high burden for the affected individuals on the personal level, with a strong impact on life quality, daily life management, and causes immense costs for the healthcare systems. Although a relatively broad spectrum of different pharmacological classes for the treatment of headache disorders are available, treatment effectiveness is often limited by high variances in therapy responses. Genetic variants can influence the individual treatment success by influencing pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics of the therapeutic as investigated in the research field of pharmacogenetics. This review summarizes the current knowledge on important primary headache disorders, including migraine, TTH, and cluster headache. We also summarize current acute and preventive treatment options for the three headache disorders based on drug classes and compounds taking important therapy guidelines into consideration. Importantly, the work summarizes and discusses the role of genetic polymorphisms regarding their impact on metabolism safety and the effect of therapeutics that are used to treat migraine, cluster headache, and TTH exploring drug classes such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, triptans, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, calcium channel blockers, drugs with effect on the renin-angiotensin system, and novel headache therapeutics such as ditans, anti-calcitonin-gene-related peptide antibodies, and gepants. Genetic variants in important phase I-, II-, and III-associated genes such as cytochrome P450 genes, UGT genes, and different transporter genes are scrutinized as well as variants in genes important for pharmacodynamics and several functions outside the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic spectrum. Finally, the article evaluates the potential and limitations of pharmacogenetic approaches for individual therapy adjustments in headache disorders.

CGRP: A New Endogenous Cell Stemness Maintenance Molecule

Stem cells have the ability of self-replication and multidirectional differentiation, but the mechanism of how stem cells “maintain” this ability and how to “decide” to give up this state and differentiate into cells with specific functions is still unknown. The Nobel Prize in physiology and medicine in 2021 was awarded to “temperature and tactile receptor,” which made the pain receptor TRPV1-calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) pathway active again. The activation and blocking technology of CGRP has been applied to many clinical diseases. CGRP gene has complex structure and transcription process, with multiple methylation and other modification sites. It has been considered as a research hotspot and difficulty since its discovery. Drug manipulation of TRPV1 and inhibition of CGRP might improve metabolism and prolong longevity. However, whether the TRPV1-neuropeptide-CGRP pathway is directly or indirectly involved in stem cell self-replication and multidirectional differentiation is unclear. Recent studies have found that CGRP is closely related to the migration and differentiation of tumor stem cells, which may be realized by turning off or turning on the CGRP gene expression in stem cells and activating a variety of ways to regulate stem cell niches. In this study, we reviewed the advances in researches concentrated on the biological effects of CGRP as a new endogenous switching of cell stemness.