New injection could help millions of migraine sufferers

Researchers in the US may have found a way to help millions of people suffering from frequent and chronic migraines with a simple injection.

Women make up three-quarters of those struck by migraines – which trigger numerous symptoms, including nausea, dizziness, impaired vision and crippling pain.

Painkillers can sometimes ease these symptoms, but do not work for everybody and no medication has been discovered which effectively prevents attacks.

However, new trial results have shown a breakthrough drug can eliminate three-quarters of the attacks suffered by some patients, Reuters reports.

Alder BioPharmaceuticals Inc in the US ran the trial with 600 people, using an injection code named ALD403.

It found the injection reduced attacks by 75 percent in a third of the people included in the trial.

The company Alder’s Chief Executive, Randall Schatzman, said the company hopes to make the drug available to the public by 2019 if the next trials have positive results.

“We’re proposing that patients are dosed four times a year,” he said.

“Most other developers are looking at once-a-month dosing.”

Alder is one of four big pharmaceutical companies battling to be the first to introduce a drug aimed at treating migraines.

Along with Alder, medical companies Amgen, Eli Lilly and Tevan are also racing to be the first to develop a migraine injection.