AbbVie has announced that the SMC has accepted AQUIPTA (atogepant) for acute migraine treatment in adults, only if at least two triptans were previously tried without sufficient effect, or triptans were contraindicated or not tolerated, and NSAIDs and paracetamol were also tried but did not work well enough. Suitable patients can now be prescribed atogepant for acute use within NHS Scotland.
The acceptance follows NICE’s recommendation published on June 30, 2026 and the MHRA’s marketing authorisation granted on April 22, 2026. Migraine affects around 600,000 adults in Scotland and is the second leading global cause of years lived with disability among people aged 15 to 49 years.
Migraine is widely misunderstood as merely a headache. Symptoms include recurrent moderate to severe throbbing head pain, nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound. The condition can disrupt daily life and prevent people from carrying out everyday activities. It also carries a considerable emotional burden, with many people reporting stigma and dismissal of their symptoms.
Rob Music, CEO at the Migraine Trust, said: “Access to appropriate migraine care can be seriously inconsistent, creating a postcode lottery. We know that many people with migraine struggle to access the treatments they need or had to face long waits to see a specialist before finding the option that works best for them. A greater variety of treatments available is essential for migraine care and we therefore welcome today’s update from the SMC, which adds an additional treatment option for eligible migraine patients.”
Dr David Watson, GPwER Headache, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, explained: “Migraine is a common and often disabling neurological condition. While existing treatments help many people, not everyone responds well or is able to tolerate current options. Having an additional treatment available is welcome news for people living with migraine in Scotland, offering greater choice and helping clinicians tailor treatment to individual patient needs.”
The recommendation is supported by results from ECLIPSE, a pivotal phase 3 study in which 24.3% of patients treated with atogepant achieved pain freedom at 2 hours post dose following the first migraine attack, compared with 13.1% for placebo. There were no individual TEAEs with an incidence ≥ 2% for the first attack in the double‑blind period.
Rachael Millward, Medical Director, AbbVie UK, added: “We are pleased that SMC has accepted atogepant as an acute treatment option for eligible migraine patients in Scotland. Migraine is a highly complex neurological condition that can significantly affect daily life, and we remain committed to supporting better outcomes for people living with the condition”
