The search for novel migraine therapies: experimental models

The identification and development of the potent 5-HT1B/1D agonist, sumatriptan has resulted in new therapeutic opportunities for the treatment of migraine and a number of chemically novel agents with a similar mechanism of action have been identified. Whilst these agents are optimised to enhance the therapeutic effect of sumatriptan, development of mechanistically novel therapies may provide new directions for the care of migraine sufferers. To develop new treatment paradigms, novel chemical entities should be evaluated in animal models which are predictive of therapeutic efficacy e.g.: in animal models where sumatriptan has shown activity, or the pathophysiological processes involved in the disease must be targeted. Therefore, investigation of mechanisms underlying cortical activity and its involvement in the activation of trigeminal vascular pathways may allow better understanding of the disease and result in the identification of new non-triptan-like therapies.