10 Mar 2023 • The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new nasal spray that drug giant Pfizer says could offer “fast-acting relief” from migraines. Zavegepant, sold under the brand name Zavzpret, was approved Thursday to prevent and treat migraines with and without aura in adults. The drug was more effective than a placebo at treating symptoms within 30 minutes and up to 48 hours later.

KEY FACTS

• Researchers found a 10mg dose of zavegepant was more effective than a placebo to relieve pain and other migraine symptoms after two hours, according clinical trial data published in February in The Lancet Neurology.
• Among the 1,405 people who participated in the trial, about 24% of those who took the drug said they experienced pain freedom two hours after treatment compared to 15% of people in the placebo group.
• Zavegepant, a gepant medication —part of an emerging drug class called calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibitors—is the third migraine treatment of its kind to secure FDA approval and the first to be offered as a nasal spray.

A Pfizer spokesperson indicated that drug is expected to launch in July 2023 and its price is likely to be comparable to other FDA-approved CGRP migraine drugs on the market. Source: US Today | Read full story