Invisible and unpopular migraines at work affect 6 million Italians.

Milan. No, it's not "just a headache." It's a disease in its own right, and as such, it must be treated before it degenerates into particularly painful, chronic conditions. This was the key message neurologists wanted to convey at the press conference in Milan where Pfizer announced the reimbursement of rimegepant, the first and currently only oral anti-CGRP drug approved in Italy for the acute and preventative treatment of episodic migraine in adults experiencing at least four attacks per month. A disease that, explained Professor Piero Barbanti, Professor of Neurology at the San Raffaele University in Rome, "is hereditary and manifests itself through severe, disabling pain, sensitivity to light and noise, nausea, and sometimes even vomiting. Trigger factors such as stress and insomnia also contribute to migraine attacks."

With almost six million people affected in Italy, the incidence of the disease is higher among women aged between 15 and 50, but the social stigma thatmigraine It also affects men, who are more likely to suffer the social effects of this invisible disease. As Roberto Pancaldi, HR Director at The Adecco Group Italy, pointed out, "Prejudice weighs heavily on the workplace: nearly eight out of ten people say migraines have had a negative impact on their careers, and many choose not to talk about it for fear of being judged. It's a cultural issue, as well as a health issue."

Alessandra Sorrentino, President of the Cephalalgia Alliance (Al.Ce) of the Cirna Onlus Foundation, confirmed these statements. She spoke at length about the problem of the invisibility of the disease and what this entails. "Being invisible means not being able to talk about the pain you feel, as well as not being recognized as sick. We therefore feel judged, misunderstood, and end up withdrawing into ourselves, fearing that we won't find someone on the other side who can understand us and care for us. We are therefore talking about a real right to dismantle the stigma that affects both women and men, with the latter often having even more difficulty opening up and sharing their experiences because culturally they feel they must always appear strong."

Rimegepant, a new drug that has proven effective in both the symptomatic and preventive treatment of attacks, fits into this context. migraine.

Disability caused by illness weighs heavily on the workplace because it leads to absences and decreased productivity. Presenteeism is also often discussed, meaning continuing to work while feeling ill, with reduced performance and deteriorating health. In Italy, this costs up to €20 billion a year, but the illness also affects families. In this scenario, rimegepant could truly represent a small turning point.

"The drug can give us back a better quality of life," said Alessandra Sorrentino. "This means being able to aspire to not having to give up on our dreams and ambitions, and simply to get back to doing the things that fill our daily lives. However, it remains essential that the disease be viewed for what it is: a neurological disorder that, through pain, robs patients of years of life. For this reason, we need rapid diagnoses and timely access to the most effective treatments."

On this front, Pfizer has renewed its commitment, which it has been pursuing for years in the field of neuroscience. "We don't just develop innovations, but also focus on awareness, prevention, and support initiatives to ensure that migraine is recognized as a serious and disabling condition," explained Barbara Capaccetti, Medical Director of Pfizer in Italy. "We want to restore time, peace of mind, and quality of life to those living with this disease by promoting more timely and accessible diagnosis and treatment."