CoLucid Pharmaceuticals Reports Confirmatory Support for Non-vasoconstrictive Mechanism of Action for Lasmiditan

CoLucid Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:CLCD) announced the completion of a preclinical in vivo study examining the effect of lasmiditan on coronary and carotid artery diameters. This study confirms the lack of effect of lasmiditan on coronary artery and carotid artery vasoconstriction; the data are expected to be used in support of potential future regulatory filings.
According to the company news:

In this study conducted by CorDynamics in Chicago, IL, lasmiditan was directly compared to sumatriptan, the most widely prescribed acute treatment for migraine. Lasmiditan, sumatriptan and vehicle control were administered by intravenous infusion in escalating cumulative doses ranging from 0.03 to 11.13 mg/kg. Significant decreases in both carotid and coronary diameters were observed in sumatriptan-treated animals even at 0.03 mg/kg, which is calculated to be the equivalent to the lowest approved oral clinical dose of 25 mg. Conversely, lasmiditan did not induce any significant decrease in arterial diameters at any dose tested. Lasmiditan plasma concentrations reached above 3,500 ng/mL following a cumulative dose of 11.13 mg/kg, which is significantly above the highest exposure achieved in clinical settings.

Dr. Joseph Kovalchin, Director of Research commented:

Lasmiditan is highly selective for the serotonin receptor 5-HT_1F. Triptans are thought to treat migraines by inducing vasoconstriction through other serotonin receptors (5-HT_1B/1D) on cranial blood vessels; however, triptans also induce unwanted vasoconstriction of the coronary and carotid arteries. The lack of vasoconstrictive effect of lasmiditan in this model reinforces the fact that targeting 5-HT_1F does not trigger the same undesirable effects.

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