Russian scientists have developed a new drug to stop migraine attacks that can not only relieve very severe episodes but also reduce the risk of serious complications, including stroke.
Researchers at Volgograd State Medical University, together with colleagues from Southern Federal University, have created a molecule with an anti-serotonin mechanism of action targeting the 5-HT2A receptor – a key element in the development of a migraine attack. The drug has now completed a full cycle of preclinical trials and demonstrated a favourable efficacy-to-safety ratio.
“Unlike existing drugs, such as triptans, which are effective in no more than 65–75% of migraine patients, the new development could expand treatment options and significantly increase the proportion of patients who achieve relief,” said Dmitry Yakovlev, a professor at the department of pharmacology and bioinformatics at Volgograd State Medical University and one of the drug’s developers. “In addition to its anti-migraine action, the drug has shown additional properties: reducing the risk of thrombosis and an anti-anxiety effect.”
The drug may hold promise not only for stopping attacks but also for preventing them in chronic migraine, though this will require further confirmation in clinical trials, Yakovlev added.