Migraine: Can Devices Spell Relief

Historically, new treatments for migraine headache have focused on various drug therapies; however, this substantial market is far from closed to device-based treatment. In fact, as many as half of severe migraine sufferers do not achieve adequate relief with prescription drug therapy, and many of these patients may be candidates for emerging device treatments. Sales of migraine drugs in the U.S. total more than $2 billion per year, but some analysts believe that the potential market for device-based treatment may be even larger. The question at the moment is whether the devices in development can produce the kind of results that migraine patients are looking for. Clinical trials are currently underway on a number of fronts, and based on early data, the answer looks promising.

Migraine headache is the most common neurological disorder in the developed world, affecting an estimated 10%-15% of the adult population. In the U.S., migraine prevalence is estimated at around 10%-11%...