What Is Ajovy and Why Does It Matter?
Ajovy (fremanezumab) is a medicine approved to help prevent migraines. It is a lab-made monoclonal antibody that blocks a protein called calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), known to play a role in causing migraine attacks. Ajovy was approved in 2018 for adults, and now, the FDA has approved it for children as young as 6 years old who weigh at least 99 pounds (45 kilograms).
Ajovy is the first CGRP-blocking medicine approved for children and teens, helping prevent episodic migraines by targeting their root cause instead of relieving symptoms only.
Migraine affects about 5% of children aged 5-10 and about 15% of adolescents. It can cause episodes of severe pain, nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound. For kids and teens, migraine can make it hard to go to school, keep up with studies, spend time with friends, or enjoy daily life.
Why Was It Approved?
The FDA approved Ajovy based on results from a study showing that it was safe and effective in preventing episodic migraines in children and teens. In the study, children who took Ajovy for over three months had fewer migraine and headache days — about 2.5 days fewer each month compared to 1.4 days with placebo. Nearly half of the children taking Ajovy saw their migraine days reduced by half or more, while only about 1 in 4 children taking placebo had the same result. The results were similar across age groups and for both boys and girls.
The most common side effects reported in the study were mild reactions where the shot was given, like pain, itching, or redness.
What Do I Need to Know?
Ajovy is given as a shot under the skin in your abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. It comes in a prefilled syringe or an autoinjector. A health care provider can give the injection, or you or a caregiver can do it at home after getting proper training. You should be 13 years old or older to give yourself the shot. Avoid injecting it at the same spot where you have injected another medicine. Children or adolescents should receive one shot every month. Adults can choose to have one shot every month or three shots every three months.
If you miss a dose of Ajovy, take it as soon as possible. Consult your health care provider if you need to take the dose late or before changing your schedule.
Let Ajovy sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before injecting it. Don’t inject the medicine into skin that is red, bruised, or scarred. After using it, throw the syringe or autoinjector away in a sharps container. Never reuse or share your medicine, as this could cause injury or spread infection.
You should not use Ajovy if you or your child have had a serious allergic reaction such as itching, rash, or hives to fremanezumab or any of its ingredients. Talk to your health care provider if you or your child have high blood pressure or circulation problems like Raynaud’s phenomenon as Ajovy may make these worse. Stop using the medicine and contact your health care provider if you notice signs of Raynaud’s, such as cold, painful, and pale fingers or toes. Get medical help right away if you or your child have trouble breathing or have swelling of the face, mouth, or tongue.
It's not known if Ajovy can harm an unborn baby or if it passes into breast milk. Talk to your health care provider if you’re pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding.