GSK and Pozen report positive data for painkiller

GlaxoSmithKline and Pozen have reported positive study results for its sumatriptan succinate and naproxen sodium painkiller combination therapy, which they intend to market as Trexima.

Presented at this year’s Migraine Trust Symposium, the companies findings from various clinical studies showed that a “significant” amount of patients achieved a pain-free response after using Trexima in comparison to the placebo.

In one of the studies, 45 per cent of Trexima patients reported a pain-free outcome after treating their migraine early, compared to 12 per cent using the placebo.

The drug was “well-tolerated” in all studies, with the most common side-effects being dizziness, somnolence, nausea, dyspepsia and chest discomort.

Jan Lewis Brandes, director of the Nashville Neurosciences Institute and lead study investigator, said the study findings helped to dispel the “myth” that migraine should not be treated early in case the treatment wears off early, also.

“These findings show that by treating a migraine early with a product like Trexima patients are more likely to still be pain free 24-hours later than if they wait to treat in the later stages of a migraine,” Dr Brandes commented.

According to the UK’s Migraine Action Association, migraines can affect people of any age or race, although it is most common in people aged between 20 and 50.

Additionally, there may be a genetic predisposition to migraine, the charity claims.