Fremanezumab reversed CGRP's anti-inflammatory effects in vitro but did not worsen disease progression in a mouse model of progressive MS.
2x migraine prevalenceMigraine is twice as common in MS patients compared to the general population
What the researchers found
Fremanezumab reversed CGRP's anti-inflammatory properties in vitro but did not worsen progressive MS disease course in mice.
Why it matters
MS patients with migraine need effective treatments — knowing that anti-CGRP drugs don't worsen MS removes a significant prescribing barrier.
The numbers in context
CGRP inhibited LPS-induced microglia activation and lymphocyte proliferation. Fremanezumab reversed these effects in vitro. NOD mice immunized with MOG35-55 for progressive EAE. Fremanezumab did not alter disease evolution.
How the study worked
Combined in vitro immunological assays and in vivo progressive EAE mouse model (NOD mice immunized with MOG35-55).
Who was studied
NOD mice with progressive EAE (MS model)
What this study cannot tell us
Mouse model of MS may not fully recapitulate human disease. Only one anti-CGRP antibody (fremanezumab) was tested.
How to read the evidence
Preclinical study with both in vitro and in vivo components — provides safety signals but cannot replace human clinical data.
When this study was published
Published in 2025, addressing an increasingly relevant clinical question as anti-CGRP drug use expands.
The bigger picture
This addresses a critical safety gap, supporting the potential use of anti-CGRP migraine therapies in the large population of MS patients with comorbid migraine.
Questions still open
- Would longer treatment duration reveal delayed effects on MS?
- Do other anti-CGRP antibodies (galcanezumab, erenumab) show similar safety in MS models?
Common questions
Can MS patients safely take anti-CGRP migraine drugs?
Why might anti-CGRP drugs be a concern in MS?
Read the original research
The anti-CGRP mAb Fremanezumab reverts the anti-inflammatory effects of CGRP in vitro but does not alter disease evolution in a mouse model of progressive multiple sclerosis.
European journal of pharmacology, 995, 177415
Citation
Pistolesi, Alessandra; Molli, Alice; De Cesaris, Francesco; Chiarugi, Alberto; Buonvicino, Daniela. (2025). The anti-CGRP mAb Fremanezumab reverts the anti-inflammatory effects of CGRP in vitro but does not alter disease evolution in a mouse model of progressive multiple sclerosis.. European journal of pharmacology, 995, 177415. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2025.177415