New Haven-based Biohaven Pharmaceuticals has secured a key approval from the Ministry of Health of Israel for its migraine drug Nurtec ODT.
The company announced this week that Nurtec, or rimegepant, has been approved in Israel to prevent episodic migraines. Last March, Israeli authorities had approved its use for the acute treatment of migraine. All Israeli approvals are for adult patients.
According to the company, Nurtec is now the first and only CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide-targeting medicine to be approved outside the U.S. as a dual therapy to both treat and prevent migraines.
Biohaven CEO Vlad Coric called it an “important milestone for patients.”
The latest approval will mean more patients will have access to a non-injectable treatment option for preventing migraine, according to Coric. Nurtec comes in an orally-disintegrating tablet.
“Nurtec ODT can have a significant impact on improving patients’ lives through a single medication to treat and prevent migraine attacks, helping them to gain better control of their disease,” Coric said, in an announcement.
Biohaven anticipates additional global approvals for the drug in the coming months, as it is under review by several regulatory bodies around the world, including the European Medicines Agency.
Biohaven recently announced its strategic collaboration with Pfizer Inc. for the global commercialization of the drug.
Contact Michelle Tuccitto Sullo at msullo@newhavenbiz.com.
