SOUTH JORDAN, Utah -- Migraine headaches are debilitating for millions of Americans, but Roseman University of Health Sciences in South Jordan is working on a way to help provide relief to those who suffer from them.
“The idea that we could produce a drug in a delivery system that is significant in the treatment of migraines ranks very high on our agenda,” said Larry Fannin, who is the campus dean for the college of pharmacy.
Roseman University is making progress in combating a painful condition suffered by 37 million Americans.
“It comes in a package, so you have all these three things together,” Venkata Yellepeddi said. “You have throbbing pain, and then you have nausea, and then you have sensitivity to light."
Yellepeddi added, “Unfortunately, this disease is more prevalent in women than men, so there are a lot of relationship issues and there are a lot of psychological issues tied to this disease."
For those who suffer from migraines, there are medications available now.
“Procloperezine has shown to be very effective, but the root of administration has always been a concern,” Fannin said.
Yellepeddi said that medication has to be prescribed by a doctor. Pills and shots take time to work, and that's why Roseman’s is developing a faster method to deliver the medicine.
“The idea behind this is like if you can formulate this drug into a nasal spray formulation it will be easy for patients to use it rather than taking a tablet or taking a shot in a hospital,” Yellepeddi said.
Putting medicine into nasal spray isn't easy. Extensive research on how to keep the ingredients active and free of bacteria while being stored are needed, but relief for migraines could be a spray away in the future.
