Merck Halts Development of Migraine Drug

Sep 22, 2009
By David Fisher

Drug maker Merck & Co. halted tests of it experimental migraine medicine MK-3207 after patients experienced liver-test abnormalities, according to several reports.

The Whitehouse Station, New Jersey-based company will not pursue Phase III studies of MK-3207, which obstructs a chemical named CGRP. Evidence suggests that CGRP transmits pain signals in the brain.

“Merck believes that the blocking of CGRP receptors remains an exciting pathway to address the underlying pathophysiology of migraine,” said Merck & Co.’s David Michelson, according to Bloomberg.

MK-3207 had reached a second round of testing.

Merck & Co. simultaneously announced continued development of another of its experimental headache medicines, telcagepant, which performed better than a placebo in a study.