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Axert (ALMOTRIPTAN)
Axert works by binding to serotonin receptors in the brain to relieve migraine pain.
Axert (almotriptan) is a serotonin-1b and serotonin-1d receptor agonist, a small molecule developed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals. It targets the 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1B to treat migraine. Axert was FDA-approved in 2001 and is now off-patent, with multiple generic manufacturers available. The drug has a half-life of 3.4 hours and 70% bioavailability. It is used to treat migraine, but its commercial status is generic.
At a glance
| Generic name | ALMOTRIPTAN |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Johnson & Johnson |
| Drug class | Serotonin-1b and Serotonin-1d Receptor Agonist |
| Target | 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1B |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Neuroscience |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
| First approval | 2001 |
Mechanism of action
Almotriptan binds with high affinity to 5-HT1D, 5-HT1B, and 5-HT1F receptors. Almotriptan has weak affinity for 5-HT1A and 5-HT7 receptors, but has no significant affinity or pharmacological activity at 5-HT2, 5-HT3, 5-HT4, 5-HT6; alpha or beta adrenergic; adenosine (A1, A2); angiotensin (AT1, AT2); dopamine (D1, D2); endothelin (ETA, ETB); or tachykinin (NK1, NK2, NK3) binding sites.
Approved indications
- Migraine
Common side effects
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Paresthesia
- Dizziness
- Somnolence
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Abdominal cramp or pain
- Asthenia
- Chills
- Back pain
Drug interactions
- citalopram
- desvenlafaxine
- duloxetine
- escitalopram
- fluoxetine
- fluvoxamine
- itraconazole
- ketoconazole
- linezolid
- paroxetine
- sertraline
- sibutramine
Key clinical trials
- ACT Therapy for HF Migraine (NA)
- Evaluation of the Efficacy of Almotriptan and Ubrogepant for the Acute Treatment of Migraine (PHASE4)
- Treatments of Migraine with Triptans in Individuals with Elevated Cardiovascular Risk and in Pregnant Women
- Does Treximet Improve Productivity and Patient Satisfaction Due to Sustained Response and Consistency of Response? (PHASE4)
- Treximet ™ Pharmacy Budget Impact Model Database Validation Study
- Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs Alone or With a Triptan and Reports of Transition From Episodic to Chronic Migraine
- Standardized sTudy With Almotriptan in eaRly Treatment of Migraine
- A 1-year Study in Adolescents to Assess the Long-term Safety of Almotriptan Malate When Treating Their Migraine Headaches (PHASE3)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| FDA label | Mechanism, indications, dosing, boxed warnings, drug interactions |
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Axert CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Axert updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Johnson & Johnson portfolio CI