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Emgality ® ▼ (galcanezumab)
This information is intended for UK registered healthcare professionals only as a scientific exchange in response to your search for information. For current prescribing information for all Lilly products, including Summaries of Product Characteristics, Patient Information Leaflets and Instructions for Use, please visit: www.medicines.org.uk (England, Scotland, Wales) or www.emcmedicines.com/en-GB/northernireland/ (Northern Ireland).
Can Emgality® (galcanezumab) be used in patients who are pregnant or nursing?
Galcanezumab should be used in pregnant and lactating mothers only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the mother, fetus, or breastfeeding infant.
Index
Summary of pregnancies in migraine prevention trials
Galcanezumab has been studied in migraine prevention.1-3 Pregnancy events are summarized below.
Please note that the results of a maintenance dose of 240 mg galcanezumab once monthly are also included in this response. Even though this dose has been tested in pivotal studies, it has not been approved and therefore is not recommended.
There are insufficient human data to establish the safety of galcanezumab
- during pregnancy, or
- in women exposed via a male partner treated with galcanezumab.4
There are no data on
- the presence of galcanezumab in human milk
- the effects on the breastfed infant, or
- the effects on milk production.4
Migraine prevention: Clinical trial inclusion and exclusion criteria
Effects of galcanezumab on human fetal development are unknown. Exclusion from entering clinical studies included
- pregnant women, and
- lactating women.4
Women and men with reproductive potential were required to use a reliable method of birth control
- during the clinical studies, and
- for 5 months following the final dose.4
Pregnancy was a criterion for permanent discontinuation from all galcanezumab studies.4
Maternal exposure to galcanezumab in migraine prevention trials
Pregnancy events were evaluated across the phase 2 and phase 3 galcanezumab migraine prevention studies.
As of the end of the safety follow-up period on September 4, 2018, there were 21 women (total female exposure: N=2183) exposed to galcanezumab who became pregnant during their migraine prevention study participation. Summary of Pregnancies: Mothers in Migraine Prevention Clinical Trials Exposed to Galcanezumab During Pregnancy summarizes the outcome for those pregnancies.4
Normal outcome
Ten infants were carried to term and delivered without evidence of fetal adverse effect (normal outcome).4
Of the 10 term infants, 1 infant
- was born to a woman with gestational diabetes
- was delivered at 37 weeks, and
- experienced postpartum low blood glucose that resolved with no further complication.4
Premature birth
Two pregnancies resulted in premature birth due to preeclampsia.4
One infant was delivered via cesarean section at 34 weeks and 5 days gestation and did not experience any complications. The mother's elevated blood pressure did not continue after delivery.4
The second infant was
- delivered via cesarean section at 31 weeks gestation
- treated in the neonatal intensive care unit and progressed without complication, and
- discharged without obvious long-term effects or ongoing treatments.4
The mother recovered without complication.4
Spontaneous and missed abortion
There were 3 pregnancies that resulted in abortion including
- 1 spontaneous abortion which occurred directly after the patient was assaulted during a domestic dispute
- 1 spontaneous abortion in a patient of advanced maternal age (41 years), and
- 1 missed abortion, thought to be a probable blighted ovum in a patient with a history of smoking and 2 previous failed pregnancies.4
Lost to follow-up and other outcomes
Five patients were lost to follow-up, and 1 pregnancy was electively terminated.4
Outcome |
Number of Events (n) |
Percent (%) of Total Female Exposurea |
Normal outcome |
10 |
0.46 |
Premature birth |
2 |
0.09 |
Abortionb |
3 |
0.14 |
Elective termination |
1 |
0.05 |
Lost to follow-up |
5 |
0.23 |
Overall exposure via mother |
21 |
0.96 |
Abbreviation: n = number of patients within each specific category.
aTotal female exposure=2183.
b2 spontaneous abortions, 1 missed abortion.
Paternal exposure to galcanezumab in migraine prevention trials
There were 2 pregnancies in partners of male patients exposed to galcanezumab during their participation in a study (Summary of Pregnancies: Fetal Exposure During Migraine Prevention Trials via Fathers Exposed to Galcanezumab).4
Of the 2 pregnancies,
- one was carried to term and delivered with a notable infant outcome of congenital ankyloglossia. During pregnancy, the mother experienced gestational hypertension (no treatment given), marginal cord insertion (no issue with delivery), and vasopressive syncopal episode with no treatment or residual sequelae.
- the second was carried to term and resulted in a normal outcome.4
Outcome |
Number of Events (n) |
Normal outcome |
1 |
Congenital ankyloglossia |
1 |
Premature birth |
0 |
Abortion spontaneous or miscarriage of partner |
0 |
Elective termination |
0 |
Lost to follow-up |
0 |
Outcome pending |
0 |
Overall exposure via father |
2 |
Abbreviation: n = number of patients within each specific category.
Lactation
There are no data about galcanezumab and
- presence in human milk
- effects on the breastfed infant, or
- effects on milk production.4
Planning to become pregnant
No adverse effect observed on fertility parameters with galcanezumab exposure (Preclinical data only)
There are no adequate data on the effect on fertility with the use of galcanezumab in humans, as patients of reproductive potential were required to use birth control during the studies.4
Galcanezumab was administered to rats at subcutaneous doses of up to 250 mg/kg (representing exposures 4-18 times the highest proposed clinical dose of 300 mg). No adverse effect was observed on fertility parameters such as
- reproductive organs
- estrous cycle
- sperm analysis, or
- mating and fertility.4
No adverse effect observed on fetal development or postnatal parameters with galcanezumab exposure (Preclinical data only)
Embryofetal development studies conducted in rats and rabbits at exposures greater than expected clinically revealed no evidence of harm to the developing fetus.4
In offspring exposed to galcanezumab in utero and through lactation at exposures greater than expected clinically in the prenatal and postnatal development study in rats, there were no effects on
- survival
- growth
- sexual maturation
- behavior, or
- reproduction.4
No information for recommendation of galcanezumab washout period prior to pregnancy
There is no information on which to base a recommendation for a washout period for those who are receiving galcanezumab and are planning to become pregnant.
Galcanezumab is an IgG4 monoclonal antibody and is expected to be degraded into small peptides and amino acids via catabolic pathways in the same manner as endogenous IgG.4,6
The elimination half-life (t1/2) of galcanezumab is 27 days.4,6
HCP considerations when prescribing galcanezumab to a patient who is planning to become pregnant
In determining the most appropriate approach in a patient treated with galcanezumab who is planning to become pregnant, clinicians should
- take into consideration the t1/2 of the molecule, and
- use their clinical judgment.
Postmarketing spontaneous reports
Eli Lilly and Company databases
Through September 27, 2022, Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) terms related to pregnancy and lactation that have been reported in the Eli Lilly and Company spontaneous adverse event (AE) database are provided in Galcanezumab Postmarketing Reporting Rates Through September 27, 2022.
Rarely Reported (≥0.01% and <0.1%) |
Very Rarely Reported (<0.01%) |
Maternal exposure during pregnancy |
Abortion spontaneous, drug exposure before pregnancy, chorioamniotic separation, ectopic pregnancy, exposure during pregnancy, exposure via breast milk, fetal exposure during pregnancy, gestational diabetes, hyperemesis gravidarum, lactation disorder, maternal exposure before pregnancy, maternal exposure during breastfeeding, maternal exposure timing unspecified, paternal exposure during pregnancy, mastitis, placenta previa, polyhydramnios, preeclampsia, pregnancy, pregnancy with advanced maternal age, premature baby, premature delivery |
Postmarketing data do not necessarily represent the rate of occurrence of an AE in a treated population, but they represent a reporting rate of a particular AE to the company. Spontaneous reporting of AEs can be highly variable and is not appropriately controlled clinical information on which to base an assessment of whether a particular drug product is the causal agent of an event.7
Spontaneous reporting has limited use due to
- lack of control population
- underreporting or reporting bias, and
- missing or incomplete information regarding medical history or concomitant medications.7
WHO Pharmacovigilance database
The World Health Organization (WHO) published a report of postmarketing pregnancy events reported by patients through December 31, 2019 who received
- erenumab
- galcanezumab, or
- fremanezumab.8
Reports classified in the "Pregnancy and neonatal topics" standard MedDRA query (SMQ; MedDRA version 22.1) were retrieved from the WHO pharmacovigilance database of safety reports of suspected adverse drug reactions (VigiBase).8
This analysis included 94 safety reports from the specified SMQ, of which 31 were associated with galcanezumab, and of those 28 were safety reports reporting only drug exposure.8
The remaining 3 reports comprised
- 1 report of spontaneous abortion, and
- 2 reports of a maternal adverse drug reaction.8
Based on the VigiBase data, the WHO review of the use of calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibodies in pregnancy and lactation did not identify
- specific maternal toxicities
- patterns of major birth defects, or
- increased reporting of spontaneous abortion.8
Pregnancy registry and observational study will compare maternal, fetal, and infant outcomes
A pregnancy exposure registry and subsequent registry-based prospective observational study in the United States will compare maternal, fetal, and infant outcomes.
This study will enroll mothers with live births into each of the following groups:
- women with migraine exposed to galcanezumab up to 5 months before or during pregnancy
- pregnant women with migraine exposed to other migraine preventative medications, and
- pregnant women with migraine not exposed to migraine preventative medications.5
Information regarding the galcanezumab pregnancy registry is available at: http://www.encepp.eu/encepp/viewResource.htm?id=32855
Information from Summary of Product Characteristics
Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
There are limited data from the use of galcanezumab in pregnant women. Animal studies do not indicate direct or indirect harmful effects with respect to reproductive toxicity.9
Human immunoglobulin (IgG) is known to cross the placental barrier. As a precautionary measure, it is preferable to avoid the use of galcanezumab during pregnancy.9
It is unknown whether galcanezumab is excreted in human milk. Human IgG is known to be excreted in breast milk during the first days after birth, which is decreasing to low concentrations soon afterwards; consequently, a risk to breast-fed infants cannot be excluded during this short period. Afterwards, use of galcanezumab could be considered during breast-feeding only if clinically needed.9
The effect of galcanezumab on human fertility has not been evaluated. Fertility studies in animals do not indicate harmful effects with respect to male and female fertility.9
Preclinical data
No effects on fertility parameters such as oestrous cycle, sperm analysis, or mating and reproductive performance were observed in rats that were administered galcanezumab (exposures approximately 4 to 20 times the human exposure at 240 mg). In male fertility study, right testis weight was significantly reduced at exposures to 4 times the human exposure at 240 mg.9
At Gestational Day 20, an increase in the number of foetuses and litters with short ribs and a decrease in the mean number of ossified caudal vertebrae occurred in the rat embryo-foetal toxicity development study at an exposure approximately 20 times the human exposure at 240 mg. These findings were noted at no maternal toxicity and were considered to be related to galcanezumab but non-adverse.9
At Gestational Day 29, in rabbit embryo-foetal development toxicity study skull anomaly was found in one male foetus from mother treated with galcanezumab at an exposure approximately 33 times the human exposure at 240 mg.9
References
1Stauffer VL, Dodick DW, Zhang Q, et al. Evaluation of galcanezumab for the prevention of episodic migraine: the EVOLVE-1 randomized clinical trial. JAMA Neurol. 2018;75(9):1080-1088. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2018.1212
2Skljarevski V, Matharu M, Millen BA, et al. Efficacy and safety of galcanezumab for the prevention of episodic migraine: results of the EVOLVE-2 phase 3 randomized controlled clinical trial. Cephalalgia. 2018;38(8):1442-1454. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0333102418779543
3Detke HC, Goadsby PJ, Wang S, et al. Galcanezumab in chronic migraine: the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled REGAIN study. Neurology. 2018;91(24):e2211-e2221. http://dx.doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000006640
4Data on file, Eli Lilly and Company and/or one of its subsidiaries.
5Ephross SA, Schroeder KM, Kellier-Steele NA, et al. Registry-based, prospective, observational study to assess maternal, fetal, and infant outcomes following exposure to migraine treatments, including galcanezumab. Poster presented at: Diamond Headache Clinic Research & Educational Foundation; July 15-18, 2021; Lake Buena Vista, FL.
6Kielbasa W, Helton DL. A new era for migraine: pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic insights into monoclonal antibodies with a focus on galcanezumab, an anti-CGRP antibody. Cephalalgia. 2019;39(10):1284-1297. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0333102419840780
7Goldman SA. Limitations and strengths of spontaneous reports data. Clin Ther. 1998;20(suppl 3):C40-C44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0149-2918(98)80007-6
8Noseda R, Bedussi F, Gobbi C, et al. Safety profile of erenumab, galcanezumab and fremanezumab in pregnancy and lactation: analysis of the WHO pharmacovigilance database. Cephalalgia. 2021;41(7):789-798. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0333102420983292
9Emgality [summary of product characteristics]. Eli Lilly Nederland B.V., The Netherlands.
▼ This medicinal product is subject to additional monitoring. This will allow quick identification of new safety information. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions.
Date of Last Review: 15 March 2023