Galcanezumab

Pronunciation: GAL-ka-NEZ-ue-mab
Brand name: Emgality
Dosage form: prefilled pen (120 mg/mL), prefilled syringe (100 mg/mL, 120 mg/mL)
Drug class: CGRP inhibitors

Medically reviewed by Melisa Puckey, BPharm. Last updated on Oct 16, 2024.

What is galcanezumab?

Galcanezumab is a prescription medicine used to prevent migraines and treat episodic cluster headaches in adults. Galcanezumab can help reduce the number of migraine days per month and reduce the number of cluster headache attacks each week. Galcanezumab brand name is Emgality.

Galcanezumab-gnlm is a CGRP antagonist. Galcanezumab mechanism of action is by blocking a protein called CGRP (calcitonin-gene-related peptide), which is involved in migraines and episodic cluster headaches; blocking CGRP helps reduce migraines and cluster headaches.

Galcanezumab is given as a monthly injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection) using a single-dose prefilled pen or a single-dose prefilled syringe after the first loading dose.

Galcanezumab received FDA approval on September 27, 2018 (Emgality brand) for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults. On June  4, 2019,  it received FDA approval for treating episodic cluster headaches in adults after positive results in the EVOLVE-1 and EVOLVE-2 Phase 3 clinical trials for episodic migraine.

Galcanezumab side effects

Common galcanezumab side effects may include:

• pain;
• redness;
• itching;
• irritation where the medicine was injected.

Serious Galcanezumab side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to galcanezumab with symptoms of hives, difficulty breathing, and swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. An allergic reaction to the active ingredient galcanezumab can occur several days after injection.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Related/similar drugs

Warnings

Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use galcanezumab-gnlm if you are allergic to it or any inactive ingredients.

Galcanezumab-gnlm is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant. It is not known whether galcanezumab will harm an unborn baby. However, having migraine headaches during pregnancy may cause preeclampsia (dangerously high blood pressure that can lead to medical problems in both mother and baby). The benefit of preventing migraines may outweigh any risks to the baby.

It may not be safe to breastfeed while using galcanezumab. Ask your doctor about any risk.

How should I use galcanezumab?

Use galcanezumab gnlm exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.

Galcanezumab is injected under the skin. A healthcare provider may teach you how to properly use the medication by yourself.

Galcanezumab for prevention of migraine headaches: is usually given as a first dose of 2 injections, followed by 1 injection once per month.

Galcanezumab for treatment of cluster headache episodes: is usually given as 3 injections at the start of the cluster period, followed by 1 injection once per month until the end of the cluster period.

Read and carefully follow any Instructions for Use provided with your medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you don't understand all the instructions.

Prepare an injection only when you are ready to give it. Do not use the injection if the medicine looks cloudy, has changed colors, or has particles in it. Call your pharmacist for new medicine.

Take a syringe or injection pen out of the refrigerator and let it reach room temperature for 30 minutes before injecting your dose. Do not warm the syringe with hot water, sunlight, or a microwave.

Inject under the skin (subcutaneously) into the abdomen, thigh, or back of the upper arm or buttocks.

Avoid injecting into skin that is hard, red, bruised, or tender.

Each prefilled syringe or injection pen is for one use only. Throw it away after one use, even if there is still medicine left inside.

Dosing information

Usual Adult Galcanezumab Dose for Migraine Prophylaxis:

Initial dose: 240 mg subcutaneously once
Maintenance dose: 120 mg subcutaneously monthly

Comments:
-The first dose is a loading dose consisting of 2 consecutive subcutaneous injections of 120 mg each.
-If a dose is missed, administer as soon as possible. Thereafter, dose can be scheduled from the date of the last dose.

Usual Adult Galcanezumab Dose for Cluster Headache:

Initial Dose: 300 mg (three consecutive subcutaneous injections of 100 mg each) at the onset of the cluster period.
Maintenance Dose: 300 mg subcutaneously once a month until the end of the cluster period.

Comments:

-Each dose is administered as 3 consecutive subcutaneous injections of 100 mg each.
-This drug is to be injected once a month for the length of a cluster period which may extend from several weeks to months.
-If a dose is missed, administer as soon as possible. Thereafter, dose can be scheduled monthly from the date of the last dose.

Galcanezumab (Emgality) injection is available as 

• single-dose prefilled pen (galcanezumab 120 mg/mL solution)
• single-dose prefilled syringe (galcanezumab 120 mg/mL solution)
• single-dose prefilled syringe (galcanezumab 100 mg/mL solution)

What happens if I miss a dose?

Use the medicine as soon as you remember, and then restart your regular injection schedule 1 month later. Do not use two doses at one time to make up a missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid while using this medicine?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

What other drugs will affect galcanezumab?

Other drugs may interact with galcanezumab, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Storage

• Store in the refrigerator between 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C). 
• Injections may be stored out of the refrigerator in the original carton at temperatures up to 86°F (30°C) for up to 7 days. 
• After storing out of the refrigerator, do not place the injection back in the refrigerator.
  Do not freeze.
  Keep injections in the carton it comes in to protect it from light until the time of use.
  Do not shake
• Throw away any injections if any of the above conditions are not followed.

Ingredients

Active ingredient: galcanezumab-gnlm

Emgality Inactive ingredients: L-histidine, L-histidine hydrochloride monohydrate, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Chloride, and Water for Injection, USP.

Company

Galcanzeumab manufacturer Eli Lilly and Company Indianapolis, IN 46285, US.

Galcanezumab Biosimilars

Biosimilar and interchangeable products are biological products that are highly similar to and have no clinically meaningful differences from the reference product.

Reference products

These are biological products that have already been approved by the FDA, against which biosimilar products are compared. There is 1 for galcanezumab.

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Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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