Teva Phase IV UNITE Study Shows AJOVY ® (fremanezumab) Reduced Migraine Attacks and Depression Symptoms in Migraine Sufferers with Major Depressive Disorder
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) announce that data from the UNITE study presented today at the World Congress of Neurology in Montreal, Canada, show that AJOVY® (fremanezumab) reduced migraine attacks and depression symptoms in migraine patients with major depressive disorder. AJOVY® is currently approved for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults.
Depression is one of the most prevalent psychiatric co-morbidities in migraine and patients with comorbid depression experience an increased risk of migraine ‘chronification’.1 This is characterised by an increase in the number of headache days, a greater degree of headache disability, decreased quality of life and a poorer response to migraine treatments.2,3,4,5
UNITE6 is a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, Phase 4 study sponsored by Teva investigating the efficacy, safety, and impact of fremanezumab on patients with migraine and major depressive disorder.
Data revealed in an oral presentation by Dr Verena Ramirez Campos, Global Senior Medical Director at Teva, showed that patients in the study treated with fremanezumab experienced a significant reduction in Monthly Migraine Days (MMD) compared to patients on placebo, a reduction in MMD of –5.1 vs –2.9 for fremanezumab vs placebo (p<0.0001). Furthermore, a significantly higher number of patients (33%), receiving fremanezumab achieved ≥50% reduction in MMD compared to placebo (13%) during the 12 week double blind period (p<0.0001), with a sustained reduction over the longer-term.7
Commenting on the data, Dr. Verena Ramirez Campos said: “Patients who suffer from migraine and mental health disorders such as depression face a far greater burden than those suffering from either migraine or depression alone. The UNITE data presented at WCN provides further insights into the potential efficacy, safety, and quality of life benefits of AJOVY® for people with migraine and major depressive disorder.”
Two further data sets were presented as posters on the study’s secondary endpoints that evaluated the impact of fremanezumab on depression8 and disability. 9
Treatment with fremanezumab resulted in significant reductions in depression symptoms as measured by two commonly used depression rating scores. The mean change at week 12 for fremanezumab and placebo using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D 17) was -6.7 vs -5.4 respectively (p=0.0228) and using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score was -7.8 vs -6.3 respectively (p=0.0108).
Furthermore, fremanezumab demonstrated clinically meaningful improvements in disability outcomes in the study patients with a sustained reduction in their disability over the longer term. The mean change at week 12 for fremanezumab and placebo using the Headache Impact Test score (HIT-6) was -8.8 vs -5.2 respectively, (p≤0.0001) and using the Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) score was -1.1 vs -0.8 respectively (p=0.0030).
These encouraging results indicate that fremanezumab has the potential to reduce the symptoms and cumulative burden of migraine and associated depression.
Study lead author Richard Lipton M.D., Department of Neurology, Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York said: “Depression is commonly associated with migraine, and clinicians are increasingly aware of the impact of co-morbidities. We are moving towards more personalised treatment decisions in migraine which are tailored to the patient’s profile, and it is very important for treatments to demonstrate efficacy and safety in migraine patients with this particular co-morbidity.”
AJOVY® (fremanezumab), a humanized monoclonal antibody (mAb) developed by Teva Pharmaceuticals, selectively targets the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and is approved for the prevention of migraine in adults who have at least 4 migraine days per month.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About AJOVY▼ (fremanezumab-vfrm) injection
AJOVY is indicated for prophylaxis of migraine in adults who have at least 4 migraine days per month. AJOVY is available as a 225 mg/1.5 mL single dose injection in a pre-filled syringe or, in some countries, in a pre-filled pen. Two dosing options are available: 225 mg once monthly administered as one subcutaneous injection (monthly dosing), or 675 mg every three months (quarterly dosing), which is administered as three subcutaneous injections. AJOVY can be administered either by a healthcare professional or at home by a patient or caregiver. No starting dose is required to begin treatment.
About Teva
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) has been developing and producing medicines to improve people’s lives for more than a century. We are a global leader in generic, biosimilar and specialty medicines with a portfolio consisting of over 3,500 products in nearly every therapeutic area. Around 200 million people around the world take a Teva medicine every day and are served by one of the largest and most complex supply chains in the pharmaceutical industry. Along with our established presence in generics, we have significant innovative research and operations supporting our growing portfolio of specialty and biopharmaceutical products. Learn more at www.tevapharm.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are based on management’s current beliefs and expectations and are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that could cause our future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from that expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “target,” “may,” “project,” “guidance,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe” and other words and terms of similar meaning and expression in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include risks relating to the development and commercial success of AJOVY; our ability to successfully compete in the marketplace, including our ability to develop and commercialize biopharmaceutical products, competition for our innovative medicines, including AUSTEDO®, AJOVY, UZEDYTM and COPAXONE®, our ability to achieve expected results from investments in our product pipeline, our ability to develop and commercialize additional pharmaceutical products, and the effectiveness of our patents and other measures to protect our intellectual property rights; our substantial indebtedness which may limit our ability to incur additional indebtedness, engage in additional transactions or make new investments, may result in a further downgrade of our credit ratings; and our inability to raise debt or borrow funds in amounts or on terms that are favorable to us; our business and operations in general, including, the impact of global economic conditions and other macroeconomic developments and the governmental and societal responses thereto, and costs and delays resulting from the extensive pharmaceutical regulation to which we are subject; compliance, regulatory and litigation matters, including failure to comply with complex legal and regulatory environments; other financial and economic risks; and other factors discussed in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the second quarter of 2023 and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, including in the section captioned “Risk Factors.” Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or other information contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
References:
1 Minen MT, et al. Migraine and its psychiatric comorbidities. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2016; 87: 741–749.
2 Lipton RB, et al. Migraine, quality of life and depression. A population-based case-control study. Neurology. 2000; 55: 629–635.
3 Buse DC, et al. Comorbid and co-occurring conditions in migraine and associated risk of increasing headache pain intensity and headache frequency: results of the migraine in America symptoms and treatment (MAST) study. J Headache Pain. 2020; 21:23.
4 Heckman BD, et al. Do psychiatric comorbidities influence headache treatment outcomes? Results of a naturalistic longitudinal treatment study. Pain. 2009; 146: 56-64.
5 Walter S, Bigal ME. TEV-48125: a review of a monoclonal CGRP antibody in development for the preventive treatment of migraine. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2015; 19:6.
6 UNITE study protocol NCT04041284.
7 Lipton RB, et al. Efficacy of fremanezumab treatment in reducing monthly migraine days in patients with migraine and major depressive disorder: Results from the UNITE study. Presented at World Congress of Neurology (WCN); 15–19 October 2023; Montreal.
8 Lipton RB, et al. Efficacy of fremanezumab in reducing depression in patients with migraine and major depressive disorder: results of the UNITE study. Presented at World Congress of Neurology (WCN); 15–19 October 2023; Montreal.
9 McAllister P, et al. Impact of fremanezumab treatment on disability outcomes in patients with migraine and major depressive disorder: results of the UNITE study. Presented at World Congress of Neurology (WCN); 15–19 October 2023; Montreal.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231016121295/en/
Contact information
IR
United States
Ran Meir
(267) 468-4475
Israel
Yael Ashman
972 (3) 914-8262
PR
United States
Kelley Dougherty
(973) 658-0237
Israel
Eden Klein
972 (3) 906-2645
Europe
Fiona Cohen
31 6 2008 2545
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Aurobay Technologies Expands Digital Transformation Partnership With HCLTech to Boost Manufacturing Excellence and Innovation15.12.2025 14:29:00 CET | Press Release
HCLTech, a leading global technology company, and Aurobay Technologies, a division of Horse Powertrain and a global leader in hybrid and low-emission powertrain solutions, have expanded their digital transformation partnership to support Aurobay’s global growth strategy. The expanded partnership establishes HCLTech as Aurobay Technologies’ trusted partner for managing and optimizing SAP, Siemens Teamcenter PLM software and integration services in Sweden and China. This will unlock cost efficiency, operational resilience and digital innovation across Aurobay’s manufacturing and engineering functions by leveraging HCLTech’s flagship service transformation platform, AI Force. The engagement spans core business functions including SAP operations, engineering systems, integration services and mainframe environments, reinforcing Aurobay’s focus on scale, efficiency and seamless operations across global locations. “Horse Powertrain’s division Aurobay Technologies’ digital transformation conti
Applications Now Open for the 5th Cycle of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award15.12.2025 14:28:00 CET | Press Release
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia UAE), announced the opening of applications for the 5th cycle of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award, offering USD 1 million in prizes. The award seeks to inspire innovative, clean energy–powered solutions for water production, distribution, storage, desalination and purification, supporting global sustainability efforts. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251215897854/en/ HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia UAE) - (Photo: AETOSWire) “Since its establishment, Suqia UAE, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has provided clean water to nearly 15 million people in 37 countries worldwide through sustainable development and humanitarian projects.
Novotech Issues White Paper to Help Sponsors Strengthen Early-Phase Oncology Strategy and Execution15.12.2025 14:05:00 CET | Press Release
Novotech, a leading global full-service clinical research organization (CRO) and scientific advisory company, has released a new white paper, Early-Phase Oncology – Clinical Research Landscape and CRO Enablers (2025), offering in-depth analysis of the key drivers shaping early-phase oncology development. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251215843975/en/ With approximately 60% of oncology agents progressing from Phase I to Phase II, but only 3–6% reaching regulatory approval, the paper outlines the factors influencing early-stage success, including trial design, patient selection, and regional development pathways. The paper highlights Australia’s continued position as a global first-in-human (FIH) and early-phase research hub. Its ethics-led review frameworks, which can support trial initiation within roughly 4–8 weeks, combined with established FIH centers, oncology networks, and cost efficiencies, position Au
Ant Group Announces Major Upgrades to Its 15-Million-MAU AI Health App AQ Amid Wider Push into Health Sector15.12.2025 14:03:00 CET | Press Release
Ant Group today announced major upgrades to its AI health app AQ, with a new Chinese name “Ant A-Fu.” The character “Fu” conveys good wishes and well-being, reflecting the app’s goal to promote better health and quality of life. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251215203213/en/ Ant Group’s AI health app AQ features three core capabilities: health Q&A, AI health companion, and integrated health services. The upgraded version of AQ now features three core capabilities: health Q&A, AI health companion, and integrated health services. Launched in June 2025, AQ has rapidly grown to 15 million monthly active users, making it China’s leading AI health management app. Positioned as an AI health companion service, AQ currently answers over 5 million health-related questions every day. The announcement comes amid China’s ongoing demographic shift. According to projections from the National Health Commission, by around 20
Copeland and Daikin Cooperation Brings Solutions to European Customers15.12.2025 14:00:00 CET | Press Release
Copeland and Daikin, two global leaders in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) solutions, today announced the expansion of their existing joint venture into Europe. Through this cooperation, the companies will introduce advanced inverter swing rotary compressors, power electronics and controls designed specifically for European residential heat pumps. This collaboration underscores both companies’ commitment to accelerate the energy transition, with heat pumps recognized by industry reports as a cornerstone technology helping to reduce global carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 500 million tons by 2030. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251215625806/en/ (Left to right) Ross B. Shuster, CEO of Copeland and Jiro Tomita, executive associate officer of Daikin As Europe rapidly transitions away from fossil fuels, the demand for residential heat pumps is growing in parallel with ambitious sustainabil
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom
