Replies to post #113829 on Biotech Values

[biomaven0]

an additional headache disorder

Likely cluster headaches.

There's an interesting existing use for DHE that Allergan wouldn't be too happy with - treating chronic headaches or status migrainosus (ongoing continual headache). The current methodology relies on several days of repeated infusions (either in hospital or, in one trial, using visiting nurses). With the MAPP inhaled technology of course this could be a do-it-yourself process. Results were actually pretty good for this difficult-to-treat group.

Here's a sample abstract from Neil Raskin, who was the pioneer in the use of DHE:

Neurology. 1986 Jul;36(7):995-7.
Repetitive intravenous dihydroergotamine as therapy for intractable migraine.

Raskin NH.
Abstract

For patients with chronic intractable headache, we compared a new treatment and a traditional one. Fifty-five patients (36 dependent on ergotamine, analgesics, diazepam, or corticosteroids) were given IV dihydroergotamine (DHE) and metoclopramide every 8 hours. Fifty-four age- and sex-matched patients (38 drug-dependent) were given diazepam intravenously every 8 hours. Forty-nine of the 55 DHE-treated patients became headache-free within 48 hours, and 39 of them sustained benefits in a mean follow-up of 16 months. In contrast, 7 diazepam-treated patients became free of headache within 3 to 6 days, and 31 had improved somewhat in 10 days. Repetitive IV DHE helps to terminate cycles of intractable migraine.