From Research to Relief: New Migraine Treatments in the Pipeline
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Key Questions
- What is the process a drug goes through from design to FDA approval?
- What are delta opioid receptors, and how might they be relevant to migraine treatment?
- What are some of the most recent insights into the potential causes of migraine?
- What is currently known about the genetic links to migraine?
- Cortical spreading depolarization (also called cortical spreading depression) is often discussed in migraine research. What is it, and what role does it play in migraine?
- Several emerging therapeutic targets for migraine — including the delta opioid receptor, PPAR alpha, PACAP, oxytocin, and the endocannabinoid system — are being studied. Which of these appear most promising, and why?
- PACAP-targeting treatments appear to be the furthest along in development. What potential do they hold for migraine treatment, and how do they compare to existing therapies?
- What role do peptides play in brain function, and how are they relevant to migraine?
- What role does oxytocin play in migraine?
- Is there a known link between migraine and the endocannabinoid system?
- What might personalized medication treatment look like for pain management in the future?
- If one CGRP treatment doesn’t work for someone, is there evidence that a different one could be effective?
Interview Notes
- Amynah Pradhan, PhD
- Amynah Pradhan Lab
- Study: “PACAP-PAC1 receptor inhibition is effective in opioid induced hyperalgesia and medication overuse headache models”
- Study: “Delta opioid receptors in Nav1.8 expressing peripheral neurons partially regulate the effect of delta agonist in models of migraine and opioid-induced hyperalgesia”
- Article: “Zeroing in on PACAP to Treat Migraine”
- Review Article: “Role of PACAP in migraine: An alternative to CGRP?”
- Review Article: “Prolactin and oxytocin: potential targets for migraine treatment”
- American Headache Society
- X: @AmynahPradhan
Treatments Mentioned
- Acetaminophen/Paracetamol and hydrocodone (Vicodin)
- Caffeine
- CGRP Inhibitors
- CGRP monoclonal antibodies (mAbs)
- CGRP small-molecule receptor antagonists (gepants)
- Cannabinoid (THC/CBD)
- Morphine
- Oxycodone
- Topiramate (Topamax)
- Triptans
Please note: The Migraine World Summit’s aim is to bring you a variety of perspectives and expertise, independent of bias or judgment. Alternative theories presented in this video have not been medically reviewed. Views expressed in this interview do not necessarily represent the views of the Migraine World Summit. Please always consult your health care professional and do your own research before making changes to your treatment plan.
Amynah Pradhan, PhD
Director, Center for Clinical Pharmacology
Washington University in St. Louis
Professor Amynah Pradhan, PhD, is the director of the Center for Clinical Pharmacology at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and a neuroscientist specializing in migraine research. With extensive experience in pain, migraine, and opioid pharmacology, she received her PhD in Pharmacology and Therapeutics from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. Dr. Pradhan established her own laboratory in 2013 and joined the Center for Clinical Pharmacology in 2022.
A major focus of Dr. Pradhan’s research is understanding the role of opioid receptors in migraine and pain states. She led the first group to develop a novel preclinical model of chronic migraine pain, which is now widely used as a screening tool in both academic and industry labs. Dr. Pradhan identified the delta opioid receptor as a new therapeutic target for headache disorders, leading to the development of a novel delta agonist for migraine that is entering Phase II clinical trials. Her ongoing studies explore how delta opioid receptors regulate headache disorders and associated symptoms. Additionally, she investigates the molecular mechanisms contributing to migraine chronicity, including neuronal complexity and cytoskeletal dynamics. Dr. Pradhan aims to translate laboratory findings into clinical applications, particularly for the treatment of migraine and related neuropsychiatric conditions.
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