Erenumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody specifically designed for the preventive treatment of migraine and has been used by over 250,000 patients since it was first made available. Migraine is a disabling neurological disease in all age groups, including older adults. Treatment of migraine in older patients requires further consideration due to possible comorbid medical conditions and concomitant medications.

Safety and tolerability of erenumab (70 mg or 140 mg) versus placebo was evaluated in subgroups of patients from two studies with CM (NCT02066415) or EM (NCT02456740, STRIVE). Subgroup analysis of patients in age groups 18–40, >40–50, >50–55 and >55 years was used to assess the safety and tolerability of erenumab during the 12-week double-blind period.

Overall, the safety in the erenumab treatment groups was comparable to placebo across the age groups. Exposure-adjusted subject incidence rates were comparable between older (>50–55 and >55 years) and younger (18–40, >40–50) age groups. No notable imbalance was observed in the subject incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs), serious AEs or in the severity of AEs by age group. Safety and tolerability assessments for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and peripheral vascular events were comparable across age groups. Common AEs such as sedation, cognitive dysfunction or anticholinergic syndromes associated with older patients were not seen in patients treated with erenumab.

Erenumab is safe and well-tolerated in older patients with CM and EM. Safety and tolerability in the erenumab treatment groups is comparable across different age groups.