New Migraine preventative Telcagepant hits road block
Telcagepant (formerly MP-974) is one of the drugs many Migraineurs and neurologists have been watching for some time, and I've written about here and here before. The GCRP blocker was in trial for use as a preventative as well as intermittent use as an acute (during a headache) treatment. Unfortunately, the trial using Telcagepant as a preventive was abruptly stopped when researchers found that it caused a marked rise in AST (a liver enzyme) when given long term. The rise was seen in 11 of 660 participants taking the drug in this manner. The rise was not seen in the trial using Telcagepant as an abortive treatment.
Some financial websites have been speculating that the MERCK drug may be shelved. (Yahoo Finance Thread) Although its use as a preventive would have no doubt been more lucrative for the company, I still have great personal hopes that MERCK will continue seeking FDA approval for Telcagepant's use in acute treatment.
As a complicated case with co-morbid medical conditions that prevent me from using effective medications for treatment and prevention of Migraine attacks, the potential Telcagepant seems to hold for me on a personal level is life-altering. My neurologist agrees. I'll be saying my prayers that MERCK sees enough financial profits coming their way that they will continue seeking approval of the drug for acute treatment.... and that it might even work for me. :)
I Tweeted about this yesterday (www.twitter.com/Eschnak) Other bloggers have a few things to say on the subject as well...
Related posts:
Headache and Migraine News
Somebody Heal Me
Some financial websites have been speculating that the MERCK drug may be shelved. (Yahoo Finance Thread) Although its use as a preventive would have no doubt been more lucrative for the company, I still have great personal hopes that MERCK will continue seeking FDA approval for Telcagepant's use in acute treatment.
As a complicated case with co-morbid medical conditions that prevent me from using effective medications for treatment and prevention of Migraine attacks, the potential Telcagepant seems to hold for me on a personal level is life-altering. My neurologist agrees. I'll be saying my prayers that MERCK sees enough financial profits coming their way that they will continue seeking approval of the drug for acute treatment.... and that it might even work for me. :)
I Tweeted about this yesterday (www.twitter.com/Eschnak) Other bloggers have a few things to say on the subject as well...
Related posts:
Headache and Migraine News
Somebody Heal Me
Tags: acute, ast, headache, merck, migraine, preventive, telcagepant, treatment
Comment
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Comment by Ellen S on May 7, 2009 at 1:32pm - Mary Kay, you're fabulous! Thanks so much for the update. If you hear more, please let us know. In the meantime, it's a good chance to stop by your blog again...
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Comment by pydy9916 on May 5, 2009 at 8:47pm -
Hi Ellen,
Thought I would post this here..I met with one of the research specialsts from Merke yesterday at our headache center (Dent Institute). According to Merke, the trial where this resulted was one investigative the use of Telcagepant on a daily basis..Merke is taking the position that it is best used as an abortive med like the triptans.
They are going back to the trials done where it was used abortively and reviewing them, but as of now, they are planning to go ahead with Phase III trials for Telcagepant. These will be abortive studies only. Hopefully, they will have good results and we will have another drug for migraine.
I had posted this on my blog at Headache-Adviser.com
If I hear more, I will keep you posted!
Mary Kay
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