Pozen drops one migraine drug, to pursue another

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Pozen Inc. said on Friday it would
no longer pursue U.S. approval of its experimental migraine
drug MT 100, one day after a U.S. advisory panel said another
clinical trial was needed.

Regulators had rejected the drug in May 2004 over concerns
about the risk of users developing unusual tongue and mouth
movements. MT 100 aimed to help migraine patients who do not
have nausea.

Instead, the North Carolina-based drugmaker said it will
continue pursuing its other headache medicine called Trexima,
which it licensed to GlaxoSmithKline Plc for U.S.
commercialization.

An ingredient in MT 100 — metoclopramide — has been
associated with a potentially permanent, disabling movement
disorder called tardive dyskinesia. The company has said
Trexima does not carry that risk.

“Trexima has already demonstrated greater efficacy without
the metoclopramide risk associated with MT 100,” said John
Plachetka, the company’s chairman, president and chief
executive.

Plachetka said the firm expected to file an application for
approval of Trexima “shortly.”

Pozen’s shares were up 50 cents, or 6.27 percent, at $8.47
in morning trade on Nasdaq.