Results of a phase II study of a new headache medicine was published in journal Neurology. Merck and Co. is starting phase III trials of this drug, which works by blocking the release of a neurotransmitter CGRP. Previous migraine medicines, such as sumatriptan (Imitrex), rizatriptan (Maxalt), eletriptan (Relpax) and other in the triptan family worked on serotonin receptors. While the triptans are very safe they very rarely can constrict blood vessels in the heart and cause a heart attack. The new medicine, which is known as MK-0974 does not constrict blood vessels. In the published trial it was at least as effective as Merck’s older drug, Maxalt. If phase III studies go well we could see this medicine on the market in a couple of years.
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