Addex reports successful phase II migraine trial

The study achieved its primary objective, the absence of pain at two hours after dosing, with statistical significance, and also showed trends towards improvement in pain-free status and improvement of migraine pain at other time points. ADX10059 has already recently demonstrated a potential therapeutic benefit in a phase IIa study in gastro-esophageal reflux disease, and is currently completing a phase IIa study in anxiety.

ADX10059 is a potent, selective, negative allosteric modulator of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5 NAM). Various preclinical pharmacology experiments have shown that glutamate is largely responsible for signal transmission in the neural circuit involved in migraine, and mGluR5 receptors are found at strategic points along the pathway. Inhibition of mGluR5 might therefore prevent the initiation of the migraine circuit, or interrupt it once established.

“These results are the first demonstration of the involvement of mGluR5 in the migraine process,” said Dr Vincent Mutel, CEO of Addex. “We believe that ADX10059 could play a significant role in the long term management of this disease, and have given the green light to initiate a phase IIb trial.”