Efficacy and safety of tonabersat, a gap-junction modulator, in the acute treatment of migraine: a double-blind, parallel-group, randomized study

• Published in: Cephalalgia Vol. 29 Suppl 2; p. 7
• Main Authors: Dahlöf, C G H, Hauge, A W, Olesen, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-11-2009
• Subjects: Adult; Analgesics - therapeutic use; Benzamides - therapeutic use; Benzopyrans - therapeutic use; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Male; Migraine Disorders - drug therapy; Safety; Serotonin Receptor Agonists - therapeutic use; Sumatriptan - therapeutic use; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1468-2982
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2982.2009.01975.x

The ability of tonabersat to relieve the symptoms of migraine attacks with or without aura was evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre, parallel-group study. Patients received 20 or 40 mg of tonabersat, or 50 mg of sumatriptan (positive control), or placebo at the onset of a moderate or severe attack. Headache intensity, relief and recurrence were recorded for 24 h after dosing. On the basis of primary or secondary efficacy measures, tonabersat did not provide a clinically or statistically significant advantage over placebo. Tonabersat generally was well tolerated and had no effect on vital signs, electrocardiogram recordings or laboratory values. The lack of efficacy may be a function of the slow absorption of tonabersat. As a consequence of slow absorption, daily administration of tonabersat as prophylaxis for migraine attacks is under investigation in ongoing studies.