Crisis in Care: Australia Faces Unprecedented Migraine Medication Shortage

UPDATE: 8th April 2024

Migraine & Headache Australia is pleased to confirm that the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has reported the resolution of the Emgality & Ajovy medication shortage.

Emgality should now be available in most pharmacies. Ajovy will take time for stock to work its way to pharmacies and rural areas a little longer.

Thank you to everyone who helped raise awareness for the impact of this shortage. Migraine & Headache Australia was involved in several media interviews which appeared on radio, live TV, and in print. We also heard from many members of our community who had contacted their local MP about the medication shortage. These advocacy efforts are so important for improving treatment access for people living with migraine.

If you would like to support our advocacy efforts and research, please consider donating today >

Media Release, 22nd February 2024

Australia is experiencing an unprecedented shortage of critical migraine prevention medication after months of supply outages impacting the lives of women across the country. The shortage affects widely acclaimed migraine prevention medications, Emgality (Galcanezumab) and Ajovy (Fremanezumab) both of which are integral to the health and wellbeing of individuals suffering from chronic migraine.

In an urgent response to this shortage, Australia’s leading medical and consumer groups – including the Australian and New Zealand Headache Society, the Brain Foundation, and Migraine & Headache Australia convened this week for a crisis meeting.

Carl Cincinnato, Director of Operations at the Brain Foundation and Migraine & Headache Australia, expressed grave concern over the shortage, emphasising the severe impact on patients’ lives. “These groundbreaking medications, which are self-administered monthly through injector pens, have significantly improved the lives of patients by reducing the frequency and severity of migraine attacks.” he said.

They are notably listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), making them accessible and affordable. However, the recent notifications by Eli Lilly and Teva Pharmaceuticals to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) about supply shortages of Emgality and Ajovy, respectively, have plunged patients and healthcare providers into uncertainty and distress.

“The interruption of these preventive treatments poses a grave risk, potentially leading to a resurgence of debilitating migraine attacks among patients. The alternatives are limited and not without their challenges, including the high cost of non-PBS covered treatments like Aimovig, which costs approximately $695 per month.”

“Despite reports that the stock outage should be resolved by April 1st, there is no guarantee that the full supply will be available. We’re deeply concerned this supply shortage will worsen and have a devastating impact on the lives of women across the country.”

The situation has been further exacerbated by what appears to be a lack of incentive for pharmaceutical manufacturers to meet the demand for these essential medications, despite negotiations between the Australian Government, the Department of Health, and the manufacturers regarding PBS reimbursement terms.

The inability to access these preventive treatments not only risks patients relapsing into chronic migraine but also significantly affects their overall quality of life, leading to increased chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and disability” Cincinnato stated.

Dr. Elspeth Hutton, President-Elect of the Australian and New Zealand Headache Society, highlighted the ethical dilemma faced by clinicians, “who may be forced to choose between initiating treatment for new patients and preserving the limited supply for existing patients”.

While the root causes of this crisis extend beyond the control of any single governmental figure, it presents an opportunity for decisive action to ensure that Australians suffering from migraine have access to the treatments they critically need.

The collective call to action from healthcare professionals and patient advocacy groups is clear to Mark Butler, Minister of Health, and the Department of Health: immediate measures are needed to resolve the supply shortage and uphold the health and wellbeing of migraine patients across Australia.