The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7244 p504
12 April 2003

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Launch of triptan with long half-life for acute migraine

A new triptan, frovatriptan (Migard), for the acute treatment of headaches in migraine with or without aura has been launched by Menarini (see p510).

Vernalis, which developed frovatriptan and has licensed it to Menarini, says that the 5-HT_1B/D agonist differs from other triptans in that it has a half-life of 26 hours, four to eight times longer than other drugs in the same class. The company adds that this attribute, together with data from clinical studies, suggests that frovatriptan has a particular benefit for patients with long-lasting migraine attacks.

Phase III data presented at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting held in Reading, Berkshire, earlier this month confirm that frovatriptan is effective in preventing menstrual migraine when administered for six days during menstruation.