Subj : 'Really expensive': Migraine expert calls for more funded treatments
To   : All
From : News Person
Date : Wed Apr 10 2024 11:44 am

Migraine experts are advocating for Pharmac to fund a new generation of
migraine drugs that target neurotransmitters to transform the lives of those
living with the neurological condition.

Acute medications which are taken at the start of a migraine attack and
preventive medications which are taken to minimise the frequency and severity
of migraine attacks are specifically developed for migraines and came with
next to no side effects.

Migraine Foundation's lead researcher Dr Fiona Imlach told Breakfast in both
acute and preventive treatments there are "not enough effective, safe
treatments available to us at the moment".

She said the two injection treatments currently available in New Zealand are
not funded by Pharmac and are "not really well available".

"One of them is only available from one pharmacy in New Zealand and they're
really expensive. And the cheapest one is approximately $300 a month."

She said Pharmac looked at funding three drugs in New Zealand last year and
recommended a "high priority" for funding them.

"About 2019 the FDA approved one of these new treatments targeting a specific
neurotransmitter in the brain based on years of research to understand why
people get migraines in the first place.

"These were the first treatments really targeting something specific.

More than 640,000 Kiwis are thought to live with the condition - but it's
currently unclear how many are classed as living with "chronic" migraines.

"There are thousands of people with migraine[s], I would argue there would be
thousands, so that's potentially millions of lost tax revenue," said Imlach.

"We know from our survey that people really want to work, people hate being
disabled by things like this especially when there is a treatment," she said.

Speaking to Breakfast last month, Imlach said more research is needed to
understand the social and economic cost of migraines in New Zealand,
including its impact on health services and the benefits of improved access
to better treatment options.

"Globally, it is recognised that migraine has been under-researched and
under-funded for many decades, but things are improving in other countries.
It's time New Zealand caught up," she said.

She said since beginning treatment for her own migraines, the change in her
life has been "pretty stunning".

"I had pretty much given up hope. Of having any solution, which is not a very
nice place to be in."

She said she would not be able to function without the life-changing
treatment.

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