Sweden widens migraine-drug subsidy to acute attacks

Sweden has extended the subsidy for Aquipta to acute migraine attacks, but patients must still meet treatment criteria and obtain a prescription from specialist care.

The medicines-pricing agency TLV announced the decision on Wednesday. It took effect on 27 October, adding acute treatment to the drug’s existing subsidised use for chronic migraine prevention.

For acute treatment, patients must have at least two migraine attacks a month and, after optimised treatment, have found at least two different triptans ineffective or intolerable. The decision covers migraine with or without aura in adults.

All packs require prescribing by a neurologist or a doctor at a neurology clinic or a unit specialising in migraine. TLV rejected the manufacturer’s request to allow treatment merely to be initiated by, or discussed with, a specialist.

The 28-tablet packs cover both qualifying chronic-prevention and acute-treatment uses. New packs of two and seven tablets are subsidised only for acute treatment.

The chronic-prevention route keeps its separate criteria, including unsuccessful or intolerable treatment with at least two preventive medicines. The expansion does not give everyone with migraine an automatic entitlement to subsidised Aquipta.

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