For decades, migraine treatment has followed the same predictable script: medications to stop attacks, medications to prevent them, and (if those fail) more medications to manage the side effects of the first ones. The market is dominated by triptans, CGRP monoclonal antibodies, and polypharmacy workarounds.
But the underlying problem remains: many patients don’t respond, costs continue to rise, and medication overuse is still common. A different approach is gaining ground. One that doesn’t involve systemic drugs, injections, or side-effect tradeoffs. That approach is neuromodulation.
And it’s not just an alternative. It might be the future.
The Clinical Results Speak for Themselves
Let’s be clear: neuromodulation hasn’t always delivered strong, measurable results. Until now.
Relivion MG became the first and only neuromodulation device to demonstrate statistically significant complete freedom from migraine pain and the most bothersome symptom (MBS) at 2 hours in a pivotal, double-blind, placebo-controlled study:
- Pain Freedom at 2 Hours: 46% with Relivion vs. 12% with placebo
- MBS Freedom: 75% with Relivion vs. 47% with placebo
- Complete symptom freedom (pain + MBS): 47% vs. 11%
No serious adverse events were reported. That level of efficacy rivals or exceeds many pharmacologic options, with none of the systemic tradeoffs. In real-world migraine prevention data, Relivion demonstrated:
- 85% responder rate (patients with ≥50% reduction in monthly migraine days)
- 67% average reduction in migraine days (from 15.9 to 5.2 days)
- 76.8% reduction in medication use
For context, CGRP monoclonal antibodies like Aimovig, Emgality, and Ajovy report responder rates in the 27%–41% range, with price points nearing $600–700 per dose. That’s a significant performance gap with massive economic implications.
Three reasons neuromodulation is poised to dominate the next wave of migraine care:
Medication Fatigue is Real
Patients are tired of trial-and-error medication cycles, tolerating side effects for marginal relief. A wearable device that offers fast relief without drugs is a fundamentally different offer.
Neuromodulation Bypasses Systemic Risk
There’s no liver or kidney processing. No GI issues. No dependency or rebound headaches. It treats the source, not the symptom.
Outcomes + Economics = Scalability
With healthcare costs under scrutiny, a technology that improves patient outcomes and reduces reliance on high-cost pharmaceuticals will attract attention from clinicians, payors, and investors alike.
Why Relivion is Leading the Shift
Most devices stimulate one nerve. Relivion stimulates two. Most devices haven’t shown double-digit full-symptom relief. Relivion has. And while others focus on acute treatment only, Relivion is showing real-world effectiveness in prevention as well.
It’s the first migraine neuromodulation platform to check all the boxes:
✅ Clinically validated
✅ Non-invasive
✅ Effective in both acute and preventive settings
✅ No serious side effects
✅ Real-world economic value
We’re entering a new phase of migraine care, one where wearable devices replaces or complements medication for a wide range of patients. The technology is maturing. The data is strong. And Relivion is setting the standard.
Neuromodulation is the most exciting frontier in migraine treatment today. If the current trajectory continues, it may soon become the first-line approach.
References
【1】 Tepper SJ, Grosberg B, Daniel O, et al. Migraine treatment with external concurrent occipital and trigeminal neurostimulation: a randomized controlled trial. Headache. 2022;62(8):989-1001.
【2】 Emgality® Prescribing Information. Eli Lilly, 2022.
【3】 Aimovig® Prescribing Information. Amgen, 2022.
【4】 Sharon R, Tepper S. Initial Efficacy Evidence of Migraine Preventive Treatment Using External Combined Occipital and Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation. IHS Annual Meeting 2021.
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