MigraineMMAE-MigraineNCT07223008
Bilateral Embolization of the Middle Meningeal Arteries for Refractory Chronic Migraine
A study testing embolization of middle meningeal arteries in people with Migraine and Chronic Migraine Headache, run by Johns Hopkins University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This study is to test the safety and feasibility of a procedure called embolization of the middle meningeal arteries (MMA), using a product called Onyx. Embolization creates a plug in the arteries. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Migraine, Chronic Migraine Headache, Refractory Migraine
- What is being tested?
- embolization of middle meningeal arteries
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 13 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 24 Apr 2026to Apr 2028
- Phase
- Interventional
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age 18<x<80
- Meets ICHD3 criteria for chronic migraine, (ICHD3, 1.3; with inclusion of ICHD3 1.1 and 1.2.1 only), with first migraine before age 50 (in concordance with previously published trials in migraine therapy36,39) . Patients must experience bilateral migraine symptoms.
- Satisfy criteria for refractory chronic migraine defined as failure of, inadequate response to, or inability to tolerate migraine preventatives in at least 2 classes. Migraine preventatives include beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, anti-convulsants (valproic acid, topiramate), anti-depressants (venlafaxine, amitriptyline), CGRP monoclonal antibodies, botulinum toxin injections. Chronic migraines must have persisted for at least 12 months prior to enrollment and at least 6 months after failing 2 classes of medication.
- Has not used opiates or barbiturates as acute (rescue) therapy for migraine headache. Opiate or barbiturate use for reasons other than migraine is allowed. Other classes of acute migraine medications are acceptable. Acute (rescue, abortive) medications for migraines include acetaminophen, NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen), gepants, triptans, anti-emetics (anti-nausea medications).
- Exclusion of secondary headache disorder which may cause migraines/symptoms, including MRI/MRA (performed as routine care showing no underlying lesion that may be causing headaches, within 3 years of screening).
- At least one migraine free day during the last month per headache diary.
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- Minimum MIDAS score of 21 (reflecting severely disabling migraine, in concordance with ongoing MMA lidocaine infusion trial44).
- Able to read/write in English. Patients who are not English language users will not be enrolled as the study assessments are only validated in English.
- Able to sign informed consent for themselves.
- Able to complete study requirements/follow-up as outlined in study plan section 3.6.
Who cannot join
- History of cranial or cervical vascular interventions or surgery, including craniotomy/craniectomy, shunt placement, stereoelectroencephalography, and carotid endarterectomy.
- A history of opiate or barbiturate use for the treatment of chronic migraine within one year.
- Current intracranial lesions as determined by routine care MRI for exclusion of secondary headache disorders.
- History of cranial radiation treatment.
- Patients with additional diagnoses under ICHD3 (such as hemiplegic migraine, basilar migraine, new daily persistent headache, or cluster headache) are ineligible
- Significant liver function impairment or serum creatinine > 2.0 mg/dL. Patients with elevated creatinine levels who are on dialysis may be eligible.
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- History of systemic malignancy or auto-immune inflammatory disorders (such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune diseases).
- History of life-threatening allergy to radiographic contrast. Patients with this allergy may be eligible if it can be managed medically.
- Enrollment in another migraine study which could confound this study's endpoints, including undergoing any intervention or receiving an experimental drug under investigation for migraine therapy.
- Additional medical or social concerns which could confound this study's endpoints or otherwise create undue risk or interfere with the participant's ability to complete the study, as assessed by the PI.
- As this study is open only to patients with chronic migraine, which is refractory to treatment, patients who have previously been diagnosed with chronic migraine but now experience episodic migraine due to effective therapy are not eligible.
- Patients with additional diagnoses under ICHD3 (such as hemiplegic migraine, basilar migraine, new daily persistent headache, or cluster headache) are ineligible.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Johns Hopkins Medicine
Baltimore, Maryland, 21287
Kallan Dirmeyer, 000-000-0000, kdirmey1@jh.edu
Risheng Xu, MD, PhD
About this study
Official title: A Pilot Study of Safety and Feasibility of Bilateral Middle Meningeal Artery Embolization (bMMAE) in Patients With Refractory Chronic Migraine Headache: The MMAE-MIGRAINE Trial
This study is to test the safety and feasibility of a procedure called embolization of the middle meningeal arteries (MMA), using a product called Onyx. Embolization creates a plug in the arteries. MMA embolization with Onyx is not approved for use in patients with migraines, but is currently used in patients with subdural hematomas. The FDA is allowing the use of Onyx in this study. It is thought that by using Onyx to block the middle meningeal arteries, the amount of migraine-causing substances which are released into the brain's bloodstream will be reduced. The company that manufactures Onyx, Medtronic, is providing the supplies for this study.
Participants will be in the study for about 8 months after enrolling, including 6 months of follow up after the procedure. The participants will be asked to complete a daily headache diary and continue the participant's regular migraine medications. Participants will also have several clinic visits and be asked to provide blood samples for research.
- Conditions
- Migraine, Chronic Migraine Headache, Refractory Migraine
- Being tested
- embolization of middle meningeal arteries
- Keywords
- embolization, middle meningeal artery
- Medical subject headings
- Migraine Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
embolization of middle meningeal arteriesDevice
Participants will undergo embolization of the middle meningeal arteries with Onyx
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment | Experimental | Participants will undergo embolization of the middle meningeal arteries with Onyx. Receives: Device: embolization of middle meningeal arteries |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Number of specified adverse events related to the study
Strokes (ischemic and hemorrhagic), blindness, facial palsy, epidural hematoma, and death within 30 days of the embolization
Measured: 30 days after procedure
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted31 Oct 2025
- Study start24 Apr 2026
- Primary completionApr 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionApr 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for MigraineStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Johns Hopkins UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 13 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Johns Hopkins University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Medtronic
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Risheng Xu, MD, PhD, Principal investigator, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07223008
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB00513681
- Acronym
- MMAE-Migraine
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 28 Oct 2025
- Last updated
- 3 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- Yes
- Individual data sharing
- No