Novel intranasal product highly effective in treating migraines

Washington, April 8 (ANI): Norway-based nasal drug delivery company OptiNose has developed a novel intranasal sumatriptan product that has been found to be highly effective in treating migraines.

Sumatriptan powder in 10mg and 20mg doses administered intranasally using OptiNose's bi-directional delivery device was quite successful in treating a single attack of moderate or severe migraine.

The proportion of patients pain-free at two hours was 54percent for the 10 mg dose, 57percent for 20 mg and 25percent for placebo.

These results compare very favorably with published figures of 26-42percent for liquid sumatriptan nasal spray and 35.6percent for zolmitriptan nasal spray and higher than the 28percent/29percent reported for oral triptans.

Moreover, OptiNose's bi-directional powder delivery eliminates drip-out and reduces the bitter taste associated with conventional nasal triptan products.

Fred Sheftell, founder and director of the New England Center for Headache in Stamford, CT, said: "The World Health Organization places migraine amongst the top 20 of disabling disorders from a global perspective.

"Novel delivery systems that deliver rapid and sustained pain relief with minimal side effects are needed. The results of this study are encouraging and suggest that a novel formulation of an already established efficacious agent in the acute therapy of migraine via a novel and user friendly device could benefit many migraine patients."

Study co-author Dr. Per Djupesland, CSO at OptiNose, said: "We are extremely encouraged by these results.

"This study confirms that the superior deposition and rapid absorption of OptiNose's sumatriptan product offers both early and prolonged relief from pain without undesirable side effects. We are convinced that our treatment will provide unique advantages to patients with this debilitating disease."

The results of OptiNose's Phase II clinical study have appeared in the journal Cephalalgia. (ANI)