FDA Approves Onzetra Xsail (sumatriptan nasal powder) for the Acute Treatment of Migraine

Sumatriptan is a medication used for the treatment of migraine headaches.It is a synthetic drug belonging to the triptan class. Structurally, it is an analog of the naturally occurring neuro-active alkaloidsdimethyltryptamine (DMT), bufotenine, and 5-methoxy-dimethyltryptamine, with an N-methyl sulfonamidomethyl- group at position C-5 on theindole ring.

Sumatriptan is produced and marketed by various drug manufacturers with many different trade names such as Imitrex, Imigran, and Treximetas a combination product with naproxen.

Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Onzetra Xsail (sumatriptan nasal powder), formerly known as AVP-825, for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults. Onzetra Xsail is an intranasal medication delivery system consisting of a low-dose (22mg) of sumatriptan powder that is delivered utilizing the novel Xsail™ Breath Powered Delivery Device. Onzetra Xsail is a fast-acting dry powder formulation of sumatriptan, the most commonly prescribed migraine medication.

“While there are many acute migraine treatment options available, more than 70% of patients are not fully satisfied with their current migraine treatment. Given this high dissatisfaction, there remains an unmet need to provide patients with fast-acting, well tolerated therapies that deliver consistent relief,” said Stewart Tepper, M.D., professor of neurology at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth.

“Onzetra Xsail provides a new and much needed treatment option for what can be a debilitating condition for millions of people,” said Roger K. Cady, M.D., director of the Headache Care Center and associate executive chairman of the National Headache Foundation. “The Xsail Breath Powered Delivery Device allows the medication to be deposited deep into the nose, an area that is rich with blood vessels. By delivering the medication here, Onzetra Xsail provides targeted and efficient delivery with the potential for fast, consistent relief, while also limiting the amount of medicine that goes down the back of the throat.”

“We are excited about this major milestone for Avanir as the approval of Onzetra Xsail represents our second approved product. We expect to make Onzetra Xsail available to patients in the coming months,” said Rohan Palekar, president and CEO of Avanir. “We continue to be focused on building a leading CNS biopharmaceutical company and the addition of Onzetra Xsail to our product portfolio takes us closer to achieving that goal.”

FDA Approves Onzetra Xsail (sumatriptan nasal powder) for the Acute Treatment of Migraine

Avanir Pharmaceuticals Announces Preliminary Feedback from the FDA on AVP-825 for the Acute Treatment of Migraine

We know that, Sumatriptan is a synthetic drug belonging to the triptan class, used for the treatment of migraine headaches. Structurally, it is an analog of the naturally occurring neuro-active alkaloids dimethyltryptamine (DMT), bufotenine, and 5-methoxy-dimethyltryptamine, with an N-methyl sulfonamidomethyl- group at position C-5 on the indole ring

Now Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVNR) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued preliminary written feedback to its New Drug Application (NDA) for AVP-825. AVP-825 is a drug-device combination product consisting of low-dose sumatriptan powder, delivered intranasally utilizing a novel Breath Powered delivery technology. The FDA has raised questions regarding the human factor validation study data submitted as part of the NDA. Human factor testing focuses on the interactions between people and devices. The goal of human factor testing is to evaluate use-related risks and confirm that users can use the device safely and effectively. Although the NDA review is ongoing, Avanir has concluded, at this time, that approval of AVP-825 may be unlikely by the PDUFA date of November, 26, 2014

Avanir Pharmaceuticals Announces Preliminary Feedback from the FDA on AVP-825 for the Acute Treatment of Migraine

NuPathe's Zecuity Approved by the FDA for the Acute Treatment of Migraine

We know that, Sumatriptan (see structure) is a synthetic drug belonging to the triptan class, used for the treatment of migraine headaches. Structurally, it is an analog of the naturally occurring neuro-active alkaloids dimethyltryptamine (DMT), bufotenine, and 5-methoxy-dimethyltryptamine, with an N-methyl sulfonamidomethyl- group at position C-5 on the indole ring. On an 17, 2013, FDA has approved, Zecuity (sumatriptan iontophoretic transdermal system) for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults. Zecuity is a single-use, battery-powered patch that actively delivers sumatriptan, the most widely prescribed migraine medication, through the skin. Zecuity provides relief of both migraine headache pain and migraine-related nausea (MRN)....

NuPathe's Zecuity Approved by the FDA for the Acute Treatment of Migraine

Two-Drug Combo (naproxen and sumatriptan) Helps Teens With Migraines

A two-drug combination that relieves migraines in adults also works well in adolescents, new research indicates.

Because the combination of Imitrex (sumatriptan see structure left) and naproxen (structure right) sodium (Aleve and other brand names) isn't approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for this age group, doctors must prescribe it "off label" to adolescents.

"There are no FDA-approved abortive [migraine] treatments for children," said Dr. Noah Rosen, director of the Headache Center at the Cushing Neuroscience Institute in Great Neck, N.Y. "This is the first really large-scale abortive treatment study for adolescents."

Migraines in children and adolescents are physiologically no different from migraines in adults, said Drexler, although migraines in younger people tend not to last as long.

The class of drugs known as triptans are the most studied, but none of those trials have shown a great benefit, possibly because of a large placebo response, the study authors wrote.