Press Release: Novartis International AG: Global study by Novartis and European Migraine and Headache Alliance reveals 60% of employed people with severe mig...

Novartis International AG / Novartis International AG: Global study by

Novartis and European Migraine and Headache Alliance reveals 60% of

employed people with severe migraine miss, on average, a week of work

per month. Processed and transmitted by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions. The

issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

-- Study reveals migraine causes significant disruption to daily life and

work, which could be managed with better preventive treatments and

workplace solutions

-- Migraine is estimated to cost up to EUR27 billion in Europe and around

$20 billion in the US annually, including indirect costs such as lost

productivity

-- My Migraine Voice is the largest ever global study of people living with

migraine, involving more than 11,000 people from 31 countries

The digital press release with multimedia content can be accessed here:

https://novartis.gcs-web.com/encrypted-node/9381%20

Basel, June 27, 2018 - Novartis and the European Migraine and Headache

Alliance (EMHA) today announced initial findings from the largest global

migraine patient study to date, involving over 11,000 people from 31

countries. Migraine is a neurological disease which can vary in severity

with symptoms ranging from head pain, nausea, vomiting to sensitivity to

light. The My Migraine Voice study included people who had at least four

migraine days per month with nearly 90% having tried at least one

preventive treatment. The findings, presented at the 60(th) Annual

Scientific Meeting of the American Headache Society (AHS) in San

Francisco, reveal that migraine cuts work productivity by half[1]. On

average, 60% of employed respondents missed almost a full working week

(4.6 days) due to migraine in the last month.

Additionally, the My Migraine Voice study examined the impact of

migraine on overall work impairment, including reduced productivity

while at work (presenteeism) and work time missed due to migraine

(absenteeism) using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI)

questions. Those who had worked in the last week reported that their

overall work productivity was cut by over half (53% reduction), with

this figure rising to 56% for those with two or more preventive

treatment failures.

"Migraine is often dismissed as just a bad headache. These results shed

light on an invisible, yet debilitating disease," said Elena Ruiz de la

Torre, Executive Director and Immediate Past President of European

Migraine and Headache Alliance. "Despite living with such an

incapacitating condition, people living with migraine strive to be very

productive but need better relief from symptoms, and support in the

workplace to ensure they can achieve their full potential. The EMHA is

involved in a number of initiatives that are committed to this cause."

Despite the devastating impact of migraine, employed respondents shared

that although the majority of their employers (63%) knew about their

migraine, only 18% offered support[2]. Further, many said they feel

judged, stigmatized or misunderstood for taking days off, illustrating

the need for awareness and support in the workplace. To help combat this

and empower associates living with migraine to better manage their

disease, Novartis Switzerland has launched a pilot program which

includes, among other services, free coaching and access to an exclusive

version of the Migraine Buddy(c) platform, developed and owned by

Healint. Novartis is also exploring opportunities to work with other

employers who are interested in supporting their associates living with

migraine.

"We would like to take this opportunity to thank the participants who

took the time to share their experiences with us. At Novartis, it is our

mission to actively listen to people around the world to address their

needs," said Shreeram Aradhye, Chief Medical Officer and Global Head

Medical Affairs, Novartis Pharmaceuticals. "The findings from the My

Migraine Voice study clearly illustrate the need for more effective

treatments and a holistic management approach for people living with

migraine. We are committed to providing new preventive therapies and

inventive solutions, including education, telecoaching and apps, to help

people with migraine overcome the challenges they may face in their

lives and at work."

Migraine often occurs during peak productive years, between the ages of

35 and 45 and often results in temporary disability during attacks.

Affected people can be incapacitated by the symptoms which can last for

days. Migraine is costly to society with the overall costs estimated to

range between EUR18-27 billion across Europe[3],[4] and about $20

billion in the US[5],[6].

Further results on the physical and economic burden of migraine will be

released at upcoming medical meetings, and the findings from the study

are being prepared for submission to peer-reviewed journals.

About My Migraine Voice study

The My Migraine Voice study was a global study assessing the worldwide

migraine burden from the patient's perspective[1],[2]. Data was

collected via a 30-minute online questionnaire fielded in 31 countries

between September 2017 and February 2018. The study questions covered

the social, economic and emotional impact of the disease, the real-life

experience of an individual living with migraine and their journey

through the healthcare system and employment environment. Study

participants were 11,266 adults (aged 18 years or older) who had

experienced at least four migraine days each month in the last three

months and self-reported having been diagnosed with migraine by a

medical professional. Of those recruited, 90% had experience of at least

one preventive treatment and of these, 80% had to change their treatment

one or more times.

Participants were recruited via online panels in all countries. In 11

countries, some participants were recruited through patient advocacy

organizations (Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland,

Netherlands, Russia, Sweden, Taiwan, the UK). In France, people living

with migraine were also recruited through the Migraine Buddy(c)

platform.

Three-quarters of the study respondents were women, reflecting a

commonly seen pattern of migraine(.) The average age of respondents was

39[2]. Fifty six percent were married and 73% reported that they were

either full-time, part-time or self-employed or studying[2]. The study

highlighted the chronic nature of migraine, with more than one in three

respondents (37%) reporting they have been affected for 16 or more

years[2].

The study was initiated and funded by Novartis and the European Migraine

Headache Alliance, guided by a steering committee including people

living with migraine, neurologists and patient advocacy organizations.

It was conducted by the market research company GfK Health Switzerland.

Full results of the study will be released at scientific congresses in

2018 and in peer-reviewed publications.

About Novartis' Commitment to People Living with Migraine

Through support and education, we aim to challenge public perception of

migraine, assist people in getting the treatment they need and

facilitate informed communication among people with migraine and those

who live and work with them, including co-workers and employers.

The Migraine Care program is a pilot program created by Novartis, in

collaboration with patient groups and leading experts in neurology,

telemedicine and digital, to provide a complimentary service for all

Swiss Novartis associates living with migraine to improve their quality

of life. The program aims to raise awareness of migraine in the

workplace and provide free coaching to Novartis associates living with

migraine to empower them in the management of the disease.

As part of the program, Novartis associates will have access to an

exclusive version of the Migraine Buddy(c)* mobile application, the

world's largest migraine tracking and research platform, currently used

by more than one million people living with migraine globally. The app

enables people living with migraine to better understand their condition,

and have the ability to share fact-based reports about their symptoms

and history with their physicians. Novartis and Healint(R), the

developer of Migraine Buddy(c), have a global alliance which includes

joint support of the Migraine Buddy(c) mobile application to improve the

patient-physician conversation, and ultimately, patient care.

Novartis is also committed to working with the migraine community around

the world to discover new ways to improve care for people living with

the disease. The European Migraine and Headache Alliance (EMHA) is a

non-profit, patient umbrella group which was launched in 2006 and

represents 28 patient groups from across the continent. EMHA is an

active member of the European Federation of Neurological Alliances, the

International Association of Patient Organizations and the European

Patients Forum. The EMHA works closely with organizations such as the

European Headache Federation, the European Brain Council and others.

Only by working together can we improve outcomes for people living with

migraine.

*Migraine Buddy(c) is developed and owned by Healint.

About Migraine

Migraine is a distinct neurological disease[7]. It involves recurrent

attacks of moderate to severe head pain that is typically pulsating,

often unilateral and associated with nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to

light, sound and odors[8]. Migraine is associated with personal pain,

disability and reduced quality of life, and financial cost to

society[9]. It has a profound and limiting impact on an individual's

abilities to carry out everyday tasks and was declared by the World

Health Organization to be one of the top 10 causes of years lived with

disability for men and women[10]. It remains under-recognized and

under-treated[9],[11]. Existing preventive therapies have been

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June 27, 2018 16:30 ET (20:30 GMT)