The discovery of a new drug class for the acute treatment of migraine

Abstract

The history of the scientific ideas and events that led to the discovery of sumatriptan is outlined with personal reminiscences about individuals who influenced the approach. The development of sumatriptan revolutionized the acute treatment of migraine and led to the availability of a number of other triptans. The anti-migraine effects of all the triptans are mediated via 5-HT1B, and possibly 5-HT1D receptors, which transduce their effects via G; proteins. This suggests that agonists at other G i protein-coupled receptor types appropriately located (eg, somatostatin sst2, adenosine A1) should be examined for their effects on the trigeminovascular system, Studies on such receptor targets may provide insight into a novel approach towards the design of new anti-migraine drugs. © 2007 the Authors.