FDA Clears Glaxo’s New Migraine Remedy

Pharmaceutical giant Glaxo-Wellcome has won clearance from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to market Amerge, a new, longer-acting migraine medicine. Amerge is meant to have longer-lasting effects than Imitrex, an existing Glaxo migraine medicine. Amerge is one of several new drugs taking aim at migraine headaches, a common malady for one in 10 people worldwide. Late last year, the FDA approved new nose-spray formulations for Novartis Pharmaceuticals’ Migranal and Glaxo’s nose-spray formulation of Imitrex. And Bristol-Myers Squibb is also marketing its Excedrin Extra Strength as an over-the-counter remedy. Industry analysts estimate that Glaxo’s Imitrex, sold as Imigran in Europe, holds as much as 70% of the $1.1-billion global migraine market.