Routes of
administration Oral Legal status Development terminated CAS Number 781649-09-0 Molar mass 566.5283 g/mol ChEMBL ID 236593 IUPHAR/BP 703 | ATC code none Biological half-life 5–8 hours PubChem CID 11319053 Pubchem 11319053 ChemSpider ID 9494017 | |
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How to pronounce telcagepant
Telcagepant (INN) (code name MK-0974) is a calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist which was an investigational drug for the acute treatment and prevention of migraine, developed by Merck & Co. In the acute treatment of migraine, it was found to have equal potency to rizatriptan and zolmitriptan in two Phase III clinical trials. The company has now terminated development of the drug.
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Mechanism of action
The calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a strong vasodilator primarily found in nervous tissue. Since vasodilation in the brain is thought to be involved in the development of migraine and CGRP levels are increased during migraine attacks, this peptide may be an important target for potential new antimigraine drugs.
Telcagepant acts as a calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor (CRLR) antagonist and blocks this peptide. It is believed to constrict dilated blood vessels within the brain.
Termination of a clinical trial
A Phase IIa clinical trial studying telcagepant for the prophylaxis of episodic migraine was stopped on March 26, 2009 after the "identification of two patients with significant elevations in serum transaminases". A memo to study locations stated that telcagepant had preliminarily been reported to increase the hepatic liver enzyme alanine transaminase (ALT) levels in "11 out of 660 randomized (double-blinded) study participants." All study participants were told to stop taking the medication.
On July 29, 2011, it was reported that Merck & Co. were discontinuing the clinical development program for telcagepant. According to Merck, "[t]he decision is based on an assessment of data across the clinical program, including findings from a recently completed six-month Phase III study".