New Treatments & Clinical Trials for Migraine

Migraine affects about 1 in 7 people worldwide, causing attacks of severe headache along with nausea, light sensitivity, and sometimes visual disturbances or other neurological symptoms. Treatment has expanded beyond older preventive drugs to include CGRP inhibitors — monthly shots or pills that reduce attack frequency for many people — plus acute treatments that can stop an attack within hours.

What's actually going on in research

Trials are testing newer CGRP drugs, gepants that work as both preventive and acute treatment, and devices that stimulate nerves to block migraine signals. Researchers are studying why some people respond to certain treatments while others don't, exploring the role of hormones in menstrual migraine, and testing drugs originally developed for other conditions that might reduce attack frequency or severity.

What to know before you search

Eligibility usually depends on migraine frequency (number of days per month with attacks), prior treatments tried, and whether the migraine includes aura or is tied to menstrual cycles.

What types of trials are currently open

• Preventive treatment trials — Testing drugs taken daily or monthly to reduce the number of migraine days per month. These often compare new drugs to placebo or to existing preventives like topiramate.
• Acute treatment trials — Testing medications or devices used during a migraine attack to stop pain and other symptoms within hours.
• Device trials — Testing electrical or magnetic stimulation devices worn on the head, arm, or neck to prevent or treat attacks.
• Menstrual migraine trials — Focused on attacks tied to the menstrual cycle, often testing hormonal treatments or short-term preventive strategies.
• Observational studies — Following people with migraine over time to understand triggers, treatment patterns, and how the condition changes with age or other factors.