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Pharma Tech Outlook | Wednesday, June 16, 2021
The new campaign, which can be found at reroutemigrainerelief.com, educates the public about the complicated biology of migraine, including the brain-gut connection, and includes original artwork by internationally known portrait artist Ed Fairburn.
FREMONT, CA: Impel NeuroPharma, a late-stage biopharmaceutical company, recently launched Reroute Migraine Relief, an educational initiative that aims to raise awareness of the complexities of migraine, such as the underrecognized connection between the brain and gut. The new campaign, which can be found at reroutemigrainerelief.com, educates the public about the complicated biology of migraine, including the brain-gut connection, and includes original artwork by internationally known portrait artist Ed Fairburn. reroutemigrainereliefHCP.com is the campaign’s website for healthcare providers.
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Migraine is the second most prevalent cause of disability in the United States, affecting around 36 million individuals. Migraine affects both the brain and the gastrointestinal tract. Nausea, vomiting, and constipation are some of the Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms associated with migraines. Seventy-three percent of migraine patients experience nausea, and 29 percent experience vomiting, according to research.
“Migraine is complex and evidence suggests it affects the entire body, including the gut. GI symptoms can delay or reduce the absorption of oral medications, leaving patients with incomplete or inadequate relief from migraine symptoms,” said Lauren Natbony, M.D., neurologist and headache specialist. “Given the prevalence of GI symptoms in people with migraine, there is a need for a better understanding of the connection between migraine and the gut.”
Ed Fairburn understands firsthand how complex and terrible migraine can be as one of the millions of people who have suffered with migraine and related GI problems. Ed is well-known for his mastery in portraiture and cartography. Ed turns the topography of existing maps into faces for his artwork in Reroute Migraine Relief, emphasizing the idea that headaches, like winding and complicated streets, may be difficult to traverse.
“My experience, and that of so many others who live with migraine, has inspired the artwork I have developed for Reroute Migraine Relief, and I’m excited to be able to bring the complexities of migraine to life,” said Fairburn. The maps I use as the basis of my work reveal the complex inner workings of cities and their twisting, turning roads. For many, that is what life with migraine entails trying to navigate various symptoms and treatment options, to determine the right path forward.”
GI disorders such as gastroparesis (delayed gastric emptying), cyclic vomiting syndrome, and irritable bowel syndrome, among others, are underrecognized among migraine sufferers, according to a study published in Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain on April 1, 2021. It is crucial to grasp this relation to assess the optimum routes of administration for acute migraine medications. Impel NeuroPharma is investigating drug delivery to the upper nasal region, a vascularized area that could be an ideal target for acute migraine treatment.
“Despite recent advances, some people with migraine may cycle through different oral treatments because they are not getting adequate relief,” said Sheena Aurora, M.D., Vice President of Medical Affairs, Migraine Franchise at Impel NeuroPharma and lead author of the Headache study. “We are proud to launch Reroute Migraine Relief to educate healthcare providers and patients about the connection between the gut and brain, the need for alternate routes of administration, and the potential of the vascular-rich upper nasal space for treatment delivery.”
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