Astrazeneca Launch New 5mg Dose Of Zomig Rapimeltt for Migraine

Main Category: Headache / Migraine
Article Date: 05 Jan 2005 - 10:00 PDT

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Effective and sustained relief from migraine attacks can be achieved rapidly with the newly launched 5mg Rapimelt formulation of Zomig. Indicated for the treatment of acute migraine with and without aura and associated nausea, the new higher dosage and convenient quick dissolving oral formulation helps patients to control their symptoms early on.

Zomig Rapimelt 5mg further strengthens AstraZeneca's offering in the treatment of migraine and is a welcome addition to the Zomig Rapimelt 2.5mg formulation which has been available in the UK since 1999.

A comparison of Zomig Rapimelt 5mg with the Zomig Rapimelt 2.5mg suggested the 5mg dose offered added efficacy benefits1 to patients with severe migraine in terms of complete pain relief and sustained outcome. For many patients the Zomig Rapimelt 2.5mg provides effective and sustained relief, but for those more severely affected by their migraine the new higher dose offers additional benefits.

Zomig Rapimelt orange flavoured tablet dissolves on the tongue and is especially advantageous to those patients who experience nausea with their migraine symptoms and are unable to take water or swallow tablets. In addition, Zomig Rapimelt can be ingested when water or drinking fluids are not available enabling the patient to self-medicate at onset of symptoms, thereby improving the therapeutic control.

"We are pleased to have this higher dose of the Zomig Rapimelt formulation to treat patients with severe migraine" commented Dr Andrew Dowson, Director of The Kings Hospital Headache Service at Kings College, London. "Zomig has a proven track record in treating migraine and has been around for a number of years now. It works across a range of migraine sub-types, both with and without aura and is effective against the 'non-headache' symptoms of migraine including nausea, photo- and phonophobia. Importantly, it is a well tolerated drug" he added.

During a migraine attack, the blood vessels in the head are dilated and Zomig's therapeutic action reverses this process by constricting the blood vessels to relieve the pain of a migraine headache. Zomig (zolmitriptan) is an oral, selective 5-hydroxyl tryptamine IB/ID (5-HT IB/ID) receptor agonist or 'triptan'. It is the leading second generation triptan.

Says Dr Bill Laughey, a GP in York "One of the advantages of Zomig Rapimelt is that patients can carry them around in readiness for a migraine attack which could strike anytime, anywhere. Being easy to administer helps patients to gain control of their symptoms and resume their daily activities".

Migraine is a common disorder and affects around 10 to 15%2 (600million) 3 of the world's population. Most sufferers experience the worst effects of the condition between the ages of 25 and 55.

Zomig Rapimelt has been on the market since December 1999 and is available in over 20 countries. It has been shown to be as equally effective as the conventional oral Zomig tablet in clinical trials. 4 & 5 5mg Zomig Rapimelt extends the range of formulations available for individual patient needs: Zomig Classic Oral Tablets (and 2.5mg), Zomig Rapimelt (5 and 2.5mg) and Zomig Nasal Spray.

References:

1 Syrett, N and Brandreth, T, Zolmitriptan : a comparison of the efficacy and safety of oral 2.5mg and 5mg. Astra Zeneca data on file.

2. Rasmussen BK, Olesen J. Epidemiology of migraine and tension type headache. Current Opinion in Neurology 1994; 7: 264-271.

3. World population projected figure from the US Census Bureau (19.9.96).

4. Dowson AJ et al. zolmitriptan orally disintegrating tablet is effective in the acute treatment of migraine. Cephalalgia [in press].

5. Schoenen & Sawyer Zolmitriptan (Zomig, 311C90), a novel dual central and peripheral 5HT1B/1D agonist: an overview of efficacy. Cephalalgia 1997; 17 (Suppl 18): 28-40.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a world-leading pharmaceutical business engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of ethical (prescription) pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services. It is one of the top five pharmaceutical companies in the world with leading positions in sales of gastrointestinal, oncology, anaesthesia including pain management, cardiovascular, neurology and respiratory products. In neurology, AstraZeneca is dedicated to providing innovative medicines for the treatment of diseases where there is high unmet medical need. The company already markets drugs for the treatment of migraine (ZOMIGT) and schizophrenia (SEROQUELT), and has an industry-leading R&D pipeline of several novel pharmacological approaches for the treatment of acute stroke, depression and anxiety and other key disease areas. ZOMIGT,Zomig RapimeltT, and SEROQUELT are registered trademarks of AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals.

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