愛污传媒

Skip to main content

U.S. approves Pfizer's pain-relief nasal spray for migraine

In this Monday, Nov. 9, 2020 file photo, a general view of Pfizer Manufacturing Belgium in Puurs, Belgium. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, file) In this Monday, Nov. 9, 2020 file photo, a general view of Pfizer Manufacturing Belgium in Puurs, Belgium. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, file)
Share

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved Pfizer Inc's nasal spray for migraine, giving patients access to a potentially fast-acting pain-relief option for headaches.

The drug Zavzpret, also known as zavegepant, was approved for the treatment of acute migraine with or without aura in adults, the company said. Aura refers to any neurological disturbance that appears shortly before or during the development of migraines.

The drug, whose pricing will be revealed at launch in July, is "expected to be comparable in price to other FDA approved migraine medicines" which belong to the same class of drugs, the company told Reuters.

Pfizer added Zavzpret and other migraine treatments, including Nurtec ODT, to it drugs portfolio through its $11.6 billion buyout of Biohaven Pharmaceutical last year.

Zavzpret belongs to a class of drugs called calcitonin gene-related peptide inhibitors and will compete with other therapies from AbbVie Inc, Eli Lilly and Co, Amgen Inc and Teva Pharmaceutical.

Pfizer is hoping to gain a competitive edge with Zavzpret's quick speed of action, and Biohaven has pitched it as the "Epipen of migraine." Pfizer has forecast its migraine portfolio's peak sales at $6 billion.

The approval is based on data from a late-stage study that showed the drug, when compared to placebo, proved superior in 13 of the 17 goals, including pain relief in 15 minutes, normal function at 30 minutes, and return to normal at 2 hours.

The drug, when compared to placebo, failed to show statistically significant difference in one of the secondary goals of returning to normal function at 15 minutes.

The drug's label includes a warning advising patients to stop taking it in case of hypersensitivity reactions, such as facial swelling and skin rash after its use.

Migraine affects 39 million people in the United States, according to the Migraine Research Foundation.

Reporting by Khushi Mandowara and Bhanvi Satija in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath, Anil D'Silva and Vinay Dwivedi

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Days after a political sign was erected outside Chip Wilson's Vancouver mansion, the waterfront property has been vandalized with graffiti.

Two people are in hospital after they were chased and shot at in what appears to be an act of road rage before eventually flipping their car while trying to escape, police say.

A Canadian soldier who was exposed to toxic chemicals from burn pits while serving in Afghanistan has been awarded full medical compensation for testicular cancer after Veterans Affairs initially denied his claim.

The day after a minivan was set ablaze outside Vancouver City Hall, a 78-year-old man has been criminally charged.

Local Spotlight

A unique form of clouds made an appearance over the skies of Ottawa on Sunday evening.

Bernie Hicks, known as the 鈥楤atman of Amherst,鈥 always wanted to sit in a Batmobile until a kind stranger made it happen.

Bubi鈥檚 Awesome Eats, located on University Ave West took to social media to announce the closure on Friday.

Weeneebayko Area Health Authority and the Government of Ontario have awarded a $1.8 billion fixed-price contract to design, build and finance a new Far North hospital.

Manitobans are in cleanup mode after intense winds barreled through southern parts of the province this weekend.

Avry Wortman, 13, scored two touchdowns on Sunday during her team's win in the under 14 Greater Moncton Football Association.

A gargantuan gourd 鈥 affectionately named 鈥極rangina鈥 by the urban gardeners who grew it in the front yard of their Vancouver home 鈥 earned the massive honour of being named B.C.鈥檚 heaviest giant pumpkin Saturday.

Chantal Kreviazuk is set to return to Winnipeg to mark a major milestone in her illustrious musical career.

From the beaches of Cannes to the bustling streets of New York City, a new film by a trio of Manitoba directors has toured the international film festival circuit to much pomp and circumstance.