Charting a New Course to Help People with Migraine

The late entrepreneur and author Jim Rohn, said, “It’s not the blowing of the wind that determines our destination, it’s the set of the sail.” Drug developers, like sailors, know very well that we can’t control the wind. Sometimes, we have the wind at our back, helping to propel us forward toward our milestones. Other times, we face punishing headwinds, making it seem nearly impossible to reach our goals. 

One year ago, following the FDA approval of Nurtec? ODT (rimegepant), we set out to launch this transformative therapy for the acute treatment of migraine in adults with bold promise for delivering relief to the nearly 40 million people suffering from this debilitating disease. It was a watershed moment that the migraine community had sought for decades. Since the 1990s, the standard of care in migraine has only seen minimal medical improvements. The void in major clinical advances in migraine had left a significant unmet need for new acute treatment options.

We were ready to help fill that void with Nurtec ODT in February 2020, only to hit the crushing headwinds of the COVID-19 pandemic. No one could have imagined that such an extraordinary challenge would beset the commercial launch of our first FDA-approved drug. But as a company who believes our first responsibility is to patients, we quickly realized that postponing our launch wasn’t an option. We knew that people with migraine would benefit from Nurtec ODT amid the stress of the rapidly escalating global health crisis. It was our responsibility to do whatever we could to get this valuable treatment to them.

We made the decision to move forward with launching Nurtec ODT despite the unprecedented challenges—“setting our sail” to adapt to the headwinds in our path. Even before COVID-19, we were already on a mission to build a modern pharmaceutical company that was prepared for the unexpected – even a once-in-a-century pandemic. We leaned on our agile operating model and decentralized organization to identify the critical launch success factors that would help us propel Nurtec ODT into the marketplace. We focused on accelerating awareness among consumers using broadcast, digital, and social media; quickly pivoted to virtual engagement with health care professionals; arranged for immediate remote delivery of product samples and $0 co-pay cards: and increased patient accessibility through telemedicine networks such as Cove.

Today, looking back on the past year, we are humbled by the patients we were able to reach and the lives we were able to change. Not only have almost 450,000 prescriptions for Nurtec ODT been written to date, but we’ve heard from literally thousands of patients like Crystle, who have said, “I’m able to live my life normally again because when I get a migraine I can rely and depend on Nurtec ODT” and Lilly, who told us that “this drug has changed my life.” 

Patient stories like these are an extraordinary testament to our dedicated team and unwavering commitment to the patients we serve. While we proudly look back on what we have accomplished, our eyes are keenly focused on the future and our ongoing efforts to transform the lives of people with migraine. 

Our sail is set, and our journey continues. 

?What is Nurtec? ODT (rimegepant)? 

Nurtec? ODT (rimegepant) orally disintegrating tablets is a prescription medicine for the acute treatment of migraine attacks with or without aura in adults. Nurtec ODT is not used as a preventive treatment of migraine. It is not known if Nurtec ODT is safe and effective in children.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Do not take Nurtec ODT if you are allergic to Nurtec ODT (rimegepant) or any of its ingredients.

Before you take Nurtec ODT, tell your healthcare provider (HCP) about all your medical conditions, including if you:

·       have liver problems,

·       have kidney problems,

·       are pregnant or plan to become pregnant,

·       breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Tell your HCP about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Nurtec ODT may cause serious side effects including allergic reactions, including trouble breathing and rash. This can happen days after you take Nurtec ODT. Call your HCP or get emergency help right away if you have swelling of the face, mouth, tongue, or throat or trouble breathing. This occurred in less than 1% of patients treated with Nurtec ODT.

The most common side effect of Nurtec ODT was nausea (2% of patients). This is not the only possible side effect of Nurtec ODT. Tell your HCP if you have any side effects.

You are encouraged to report side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088 or report side effects to Biohaven at 1-833-4Nurtec.

Please click here for full Prescribing Information and Patient Information.