MSD drug sees ‘significant’ improvement in migraine pain

At the annual meeting of the American Headache Society, Merck, Sharp and Dohme (MSD) has announced the results of a phase II clinical trial assessing the efficacy of MK-0974 as a treatment for patients with migraine.

The study showed that administration with the compound improved pain relief within two hours compared to placebo, with this relief maintained for 24 hours. The company notes that patients also reported responses to other migraine-related symptoms, such as functional disability.

MK-0974 is an orally-administered calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist, which blocks the binding of these receptors in order to inhibit the transmission of pain impulses during a migraine attack.

Tony Ho, senior director of clinical neuroscience at Merck Research Laboratories, said: “The findings of this early-stage trial demonstrate the therapeutic potential of MK-0974 for the acute treatment of migraines.”

He added that larger trials of the compound – including those currently in progress – will provide the firm with improved information regarding the safety and efficacy of the treatment as a therapy for migraine patients.

In April 2007, a study conducted by scientists at Harvard Medical School and others found that men who experience migraine attacks are more likely to experience heart attacks than those who do not.