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Biotech / Medical : Pharma News Only (pfe,mrk,wla, sgp, ahp, bmy, lly) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Anthony Wong who wrote (725)	9/1/1998 5:28:00 PM
From: Anthony Wong	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1722

Merck Launches New Migraine Drug in U.K., Adding to Competition London, Sept. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Merck & Co. said it started selling its new migraine treatment Maxalt in the U.K., opening another market for a drug some analysts said may grow to generate $190 million in 2002. Maxalt, which has been approved in the U.S., Mexico and major European markets, is the fourth migraine drug in the new ''triptan'' class on the market after Imigran and Naramig from Glaxo Wellcome Plc and Zeneca Group Plc's Zomig. Pfizer Inc. and Vanguard Medica Plc are also close to market with their own triptan migraine drugs, while SmithKline Beecham Plc is developing two other kinds of migraine drugs. The drugmakers are competing in a global market now worth about $1 billion a year, which analysts say could quadruple in five years as patients become aware of new treatments. Migraines, which are debilitating headaches that can last as much as 72 hours, affect an estimated 6 million people in Britain alone, the non-profit Migraine Trust charity said. ''They are all relatively similar compounds, but there are some key differences that the marketing people are exploiting,'' John Savin, an analyst with Greig Middleton & Co., said of triptan migraine drugs. Since only about 10 percent of all migraine sufferers are now treated with new medicines, ''the challenge for these companies is to grow the market,'' said Savin. Greig Middleton predicted in a recent report that 35 percent of so-called migraineurs may have recourse to new medicines within the next five years. Analysts said that because Imigran, Naramig and Zomig are already established in the migraine market, Merck may face a challenge in distinguishing Maxalt from the others. Merck said studies have shown that Maxalt brings quicker relief than Imigran, and can also be taken in a unique wafer formulation that dissolves under the tongue. ''In a study comparing the efficacy and tolerability of rizatriptan (Maxalt) 10 mg tablet with oral sumatriptan (Imigran) 100 mg, the rizatriptan 10 mg tablet provided headache-pain relief sooner within the first two hours of dosing,'' said Merck in a statement. A spokeswoman for Glaxo said the company isn't worried about new competition to its migraine-treatment products. Imigran generated 662 million pounds ($1.08 billion) in 1997 sales, its second-biggest selling drug and by far the market leader. ''There is new competition on the market, but we have quite a wide range of products,'' said Nancy Pekarek, the spokeswoman, referring to injectable, tablet or nasal spray formulations of its drugs. ''There is no doubt the products meet the needs of the market.'' -Dane Hamilton in the London newsroom (44-171) 330-7727/ab quote.bloomberg.com