Fremanezumab-vfrm

Class: Calcitonin Gene-related Peptide (CGRP) Antagonists
- Anti-Calcitonin Gene-related Peptide Monoclonal Antibodies
- Anti-CGRP Monoclonal Antibodies
- Calcitonin Gene-related Peptide Antagonists
- CGRP Antagonists
Chemical Name: Immunoglobulin G2, anti-(human α-calcitonin gene-related peptide/β-calcitonin gene-related peptide) (human-Mus musculus monoclonal TEV-48125 heavy chain), disulfide with human-Mus musculus monoclonal TEV-48125 light chain, dimer
Molecular Formula: C₆₄₇₀H₉₉₅₂N₁₇₁₆O₂₀₁₆S₄₆
CAS Number: 1655501-53-3
Brands: Ajovy ([Web])

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Mar 31, 2022. Written by ASHP.

Introduction

Antimigraine agent; recombinant humanized IgG_2a monoclonal antibody specific for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) ligand.

Uses for Fremanezumab-vfrm

Preventive Treatment of Migraine

Preventive treatment of migraine in adults.

Substantially reduces the monthly average number of migraine or headache days and acute antimigraine agent- or headache medication-use days in patients with episodic or chronic migraine compared with placebo.

The American Headache Society (AHS) states that fremanezumab and other anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies offer a number of advantages over some oral migraine preventive therapies, including no need for dosage escalation, rapid onset of therapeutic activity, minimal risk of adverse drug reactions, favorable overall tolerability profiles, and demonstrated efficacy after failure of prior preventive treatments or in combination with oral preventive treatments. However, the potential benefit of using newer therapies such as the anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies over established therapies should be considered on an individual basis.

AHS has established a criteria for initiating treatment with anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies based on a balance of cost-effective considerations and access to care; according to this criteria, use of anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies may be appropriate when patients with migraine are unable to tolerate and/or have an inadequate response to an 8-week trial of at least 2 oral preventive therapies (e.g., topiramate, valproate, β-adrenergic blocking agents, tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin- and norepinephrine-reuptake inhibitors).

Fremanezumab-vfrm Dosage and Administration

Administration

Administer by sub-Q injection only.

Commercially available in single-use prefilled syringes and single-use prefilled auto-injectors (i.e., injection pens) containing 225 mg of the drug in 1.5 mL of solution. May be administered by a healthcare professional or caregiver or self-administered.

Sub-Q Administration

Administer by sub-Q injection into the abdomen, anterior thigh, or back of upper arm; avoid injections within 2 inches of the navel, knee, or groin.

May administer multiple injections of the drug (i.e., to achieve a 675-mg dose) at same body site but not at exact location of previous injection. Do not administer concomitantly with other parenteral drugs at the