A new study by researchers at Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School brings hope for endometriosis sufferers: migraine medications already approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could not only relieve pain, but also reduce endometriosis lesions.
The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, shows that certain migraine drugs (fremanezumab, galcanezumab, rimegepant, and ubrogepant) can reduce inflammatory processes in mouse models by specifically targeting pain sensors (nociceptors) and immune cells (especially macrophages).
The mechanism of action
These drugs block the molecule CGRP and its receptor RAMP1, which play a central role in pain transmission and the maintenance of inflammation.
In comparison, ibuprofen—a common pain reliever for endometriosis—showed only limited effectiveness. The new active substances, on the other hand, could reduce both spontaneous and mechanically triggered pain while slowing the progression of lesions.
Outlook
If these results are confirmed in clinical trials, this would be the first new therapeutic approach to endometriosis in decades.