Migraine is a neurological disease affecting about one billion people worldwide. Treatments now include preventive medications taken daily and acute drugs that can stop an attack within two hours. Research focuses on drugs that block pain signals in specific ways, on understanding why some people develop chronic daily headache, and on identifying who responds to which treatment.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing new CGRP-blocking drugs, gepants that work for both prevention and acute treatment, ditans that target serotonin receptors without constricting blood vessels, neuromodulation devices that deliver electrical or magnetic pulses, and antibodies that may prevent migraine from becoming chronic. Studies also examine the role of gut bacteria, hormones, and brain structure in migraine susceptibility.
CGRP pathway drugs
Multiple drugs now block CGRP, a molecule that transmits pain signals during migraine. Monthly injections and pills have reduced attack frequency by half or more for many people who didn't respond to older preventives.
Neuromodulation devices
Devices that stimulate the vagus nerve or deliver transcranial magnetic pulses can stop or prevent attacks without medication. Studies are testing which devices work best for which people.
Chronic migraine research
Researchers are studying why some people transition from episodic to chronic daily headache and whether early aggressive treatment can prevent this. Trials test whether combining preventive approaches works better than single drugs.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on attack frequency, prior preventive failures, medication overuse status, and whether you have migraine with or without aura.
What types of trials are currently open
- Preventive trials — Testing drugs or devices taken regularly to reduce attack frequency. Often require tracking headache days for months before and during treatment.
- Acute treatment trials — Testing medications or devices used during an attack to stop pain within two hours. May require treating multiple attacks to see if the treatment consistently works.
- Chronic migraine trials — Testing treatments for people with headache on 15 or more days per month. Often require medication overuse to be addressed first.
- Device trials — Testing neuromodulation devices that deliver electrical pulses or magnetic stimulation. May involve using the device at home daily or during attacks.
- Mechanistic studies — Using brain imaging or other tests during attacks to understand what triggers migraine and why treatments work. May involve controlled headache provocation.
Recently added Migraine trials
Scapular Muscle Activation and Shoulder Performance in Migraine
Migraine is a significant health problem due to its high prevalence and substantial contribution to disability. Individuals with migraine have been reported to exhibit myofascial trigger points, increased pain sensitivity, and altered muscle activation patterns, particularly in the trapezius muscles. As the upper and middle trapezius muscles play critical roles in scapular stability and movement, alterations in these muscles may affect scapular orientation and upper extremity function. However, studies investigating the relationship between trapezius muscle activation, scapular orientation, and upper extremity performance in individuals with migraine are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to compare trapezius muscle activation, scapular orientation, and upper extremity performance between individuals with and without migraine. We hypothesized that individuals with migraine would exhibit altered upper and middle trapezius muscle activation, impaired scapular orientation, and reduced upper extremity performance compared with healthy controls.
Study Evaluating the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of ASY202 (Dihydroergotamine Mesylate [DHE] Inhalation Powder Delivered Via a Multidose Dry Powder Inhaler) for the Acute Treatment of Migraine in Adult Patients
This study is testing an investigational inhaled migraine medication to see how well it works, how safe it is, and how well people tolerate it. Adults with migraine will receive both the study medication (ASY202) and a placebo (inactive treatment) at different times during the study. Neither participants nor study staff will know which treatment is given at the time. The medication is taken using a handheld dry powder inhaler to treat migraine attacks when they occur. Following screening, eligible participants will be enrolled and randomized to one of two treatments sequences i.e. one treatment sequence will receive ASY202 in treatment period 1 followed by placebo in treatment period 2 and other treatment sequence will receive placebo in treatment period 1 followed by ASY202 in treatment period 2. The study lasts about 16 weeks and includes a screening period, two treatment periods (with a minimum of 7 days washout period between the treatment periods), and a safety follow-up visit.
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