Merck's telcagepant meets migraine endpoints

Merck (NYSE:MRK) said both doses of oral telcagepant ( MK-0974) significantly improved all five primary endpoints vs. placebo in a Phase III trial to treat acute migraine pain. The double-blind trial of the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonist in 1,380 patients evaluated 150 and 300 mg doses.

The endpoints were measured at two hours post-dose and included pain relief, pain freedom, phonophobia, photophobia and no nausea. In the 300 mg telcagepant group, 55% of patients had pain relief vs. 28% of placebo patients (p<0.001); 27% had pain freedom vs. 10% for placebo (p<0.001); 58% had absence of phonophobia vs. 37% of placebo patients (p<0.001); 51% had absence of photophobia vs. 29% for placebo (p<0.001); and 65% were nausea-free compared with 55% of placebo patients (p<=0.01). ...