Migraine Patients Respond to ICER Evidence Report on Acute Treatments for Migraine Attacks
Controversial health economics group evaluating cost-effectiveness of new, groundbreaking acute therapies for migraine attacks
WASHINGTON – Today, the nonprofits Headache & Migraine Policy Forum and Coalition For Headache And Migraine Patients commented on the published evidence report from the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, or ICER, on the value of innovative acute treatments for migraine attacks.
The two groups submitted public comments throughout ICER’s review process. They pointed out concerns that ICER’s quantitative model does not adequately assess the true cost of migraine disease and neglects the full potential benefits of these new therapies. The Headache & Migraine Policy Forum recommended ICER amend its draft evidence report to address:
• Methodology
- Quantitative model failures
- Qualitative concernsSTATEMENT FROM KRISTIN MOLACEK, MIGRAINE PATIENT, SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI:“As a mother of five young children, I know firsthand that migraine attacks are debilitating not just for me, but for my entire family. I was lucky to be included in a clinical trial for a new migraine therapy that significantly reduced my migraine attacks and had minimal side effects. Even more important, it allowed me to care for my family and be there for the important things – like birthday parties and school programs. Patients and their doctors, not insurance companies or economists, should decide which therapies are best.”
STATEMENT FROM BILL YOUNG, MD, JEFFERSON HEADACHE CENTER, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA:
“I work every day with patients living with chronic migraine. Together, we determine which therapies make sense for their symptoms, their health history and their lifestyle. It’s a very individual and personal decision that should remain between a doctor and their patient. Unfortunately, ICER’s flawed reports threaten access for many of my patients, regardless of what is best for them.”
STATEMENT FROM LINDSAY VIDENIEKS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE HEADACHE & MIGRAINE POLICY FORUM:
“ICER appropriately recognizes the value of groundbreaking therapies for migraine patients in its evidence report. But this conclusion does not change the fact that ICER’s underlying methodology remains deeply flawed. For this ICER report, the group’s economists once again have relied upon incomplete data to drive a one-size-fits-all valuation of innovative medicine. Migraine patients, and all patients, deserve an approach that more accurately incorporates the variables that characterize patients’ unique disease experiences.”
STATEMENT FROM KEVIN LENABURG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COALITION FOR HEADACHE AND MIGRAINE PATIENTS:
“Migraine disease is painful and debilitating for millions of Americans. Patients have been waiting a long time for innovative treatments that can stop a migraine attack from taking hold and knocking them out for hours or days at a time. We are most concerned about ICER’s flawed comparison of these new medicines to clinical trial data from 30 years ago. Patients deserve access to these groundbreaking therapies so they and their doctors can determine what works best in the real world to help them manage their unique migraine attacks.”
Migraine disease is the second leading cause of all global disability and neurological burden. Approximately 40 million Americans experience migraine attacks, with about 4 million having chronic migraine, which means they experience attacks on more than half the days each month.
The Headache & Migraine Policy Forum advances public policies and practices that promote accelerated innovation and improved treatments for persons living with headache disorders and migraine disease.
The Coalition For Headache And Migraine Patients (CHAMP) provides support to people with headache, migraine and cluster diseases who are often stigmatized and under-served. CHAMP brings together organizations and leaders in this disease area to enhance communication, coordination, and collaboration to more effectively help people wherever they are on their patient journey.
