JAMA: GlaxoSmithKline-Pozen Combination Treatment Increases Anti-Migraine Effectiveness

Today's Journal of the American Medical Association [JAMA] has an article demonstrating that Trexima, a migraine treatment combining Imitrex and naproxen sodium, relieves migraine headaches significantly more effectively than either drug alone, according to two separate studies. The combination therapy is produced by GlaxoSmithKline and Pozen Inc.; Pozen's shares jumped nearly 9% in after hours trading on the news. Trexima was found to stop moderate to severe migraines in 65% of cases, versus just 55% effective relief for Imitrex alone, 44% for naproxen sodium alone and just 28% for the placebo. Some doctors have known combination therapy was more effective for some time; according to neurologist Richard Lipton, "We've used combination therapy for a long time... these two studies provide really solid evidence that the combination treatment is rational and provides better outcomes."

Sources: Press Release, Washington Post, Bloomberg, Reuters,
Commentary: GlaxoSmithKline, Like Other Pharmas, Ignored in Good Drug Press • Glaxo's Q4 Earnings Mostly In-line, Shares Up on '07 Prospects •
Stocks/ETFs to watch: GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Pozen Inc. (POZN). Competitors: Pfizer (PFE), Merck (MRK), Novartis (NVS), Sanofi-Aventis (SNY). ETFs: iShares S&P Global Healthcare (IXJ)

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