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Nature Reviews Drug Discovery 8, 836 (1 November 2009) | doi:10.1038/nrd3039

Trial watch: CGRP receptor antagonist meets Phase III migraine end points

Merck has announced that the antagonist of the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor telcagepant has met the primary end points in two Phase III trials to treat migraine, which is characterized by attacks of intense throbbing head pain that can last from 4 to 72 hours. One study showed that the compound led to significant pain relief compared with placebo 2 hours after treatment and sustained freedom from pain up to 24 hours after treatment.