Introduction: This paper reviews placebo-controlled randomized double-blind 
studies with erenumab for the prevention of migraine. Erenumab is a fully human 
monoclonal antibody (mAb), which specifically blocks the calcitonin gene-related 
peptide (GGRP) receptor. Areas covered: This manuscript was based on articles 
written in English located on PubMed using the following search terms: episodic 
and chronic migraine, migraine prophylaxis and prevention, CGRP, CGRP receptor, 
CGRP receptor antagonist, erenumab, treatment failures, and trigeminal nerve. 
Expert commentary: The primary endpoints in Phase II and III preventive episodic 
migraine trials have been reached successfully, and so have multiple secondary 
endpoints. Monthly subcutaneous injections of either erenumab 70 mg or 140 mg 
reduced mean monthly migraine days (MMDs) after 3 and 6 months significantly 
greater than placebo when compared to baseline values with an onset of action 
within the first week. About 50% of subjects have at least a 50% reduction of 
MMDs. Several patient-reported outcome measures demonstrate improved quality of 
life with erenumab. This antibody also shows efficacy in a prior preventive 
treatment failure population. The tolerability of erenumab is good, which is 
reflected by low dropout rates in all erenumab clinical trials. Within the first 
year of treatment, no specific group or type of adverse events were observed.