AstraZeneca's Zomig impresses in cluster headache trial

Anglo-Swedish drug major AstraZeneca says that data from a study of its pain treatment Zomig (zolmitriptan) shows that the drug provides relief from cluster headache, a condition recognized as being one of the most painful of its type. The findings, which were presented at the 13th annual congress of the International Headache Society in Stockholm, Sweden, indicate that the 10mg formulation of the nasal spray provides significant pain relief 10 minutes after administration, compared with placebo.

Zomig was examined in a double-blind, randomized crossover out-patient study, conducted at multiple sites. Participants, 55 in total, treated their headaches with 5mg or 10mg doses of the drug, or placebo, with efficacy being assessed using a five-point severity scale.

The results showed that 52% of those that received the 5mg dosage, and 60.8% of those treated with the 10mg formulation, achieved the primary efficacy goal of relief 30 minutes post administration. The higher dose of the drug was shown to be effective at around 10 minutes after administration, compared with placebo (30.6% versus 18%).