Results from a new pooled data analysis presented at the European Headache and Migraine Trust International Congress (EHMTIC) 2008 today show that zolmitriptan ('Zomig') nasal spray provided fast and efficacious relief in the treatment of episodic and chronic cluster headache. The data shows that zolmitriptan nasal spray provided significant relief from cluster headache at 30 minutes - this maybe of real significance for patients whose current treatment options (oxygen inhalation, self administered sumatriptan injection or a combination of both) are limited due to inconvenience of use.

Zolmitriptan nasal spray has recently been approved in the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany by their national licensing authorities for the acute treatment of cluster headache, but is not yet licensed in the United Kingdom.

Cluster headache is characterised by recurrent, short-lasting headache attacks with rapid onset of excruciating pain. It has been reported to be the most painful type of headache, even compared with migraine and tension-type headaches. Female sufferers have reported that the pain of each attack is worse than childbirth.

Data from the meta-analysis of two double-blind, randomised, cross-over studies involving 121 evaluable adult patients shows that zolmitriptan nasal spray provided significant cluster headache relief at 30 minutes compared to placebo at both 5 mg and 10 mg doses, meeting the primary endpoint of the study. The odds ratios (OR) for 5 mg versus placebo is 3.48 (CI: 1.49, 8.10, p=0.004) and for 10 mg versus placebo is 8.68 (CI: 3.35, 22.5, p