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UArizona researchers test potential therapy for concussion-related headaches

Posted at 6:01 AM, Feb 25, 2020
and last updated 2020-02-25 10:48:51-05

TUCSON, Ariz. - Researchers at the University of Arizona are testing a new potential therapy for concussion-related headaches.

Researchers at the University of Arizona are collaborating with scientists at Teva Biologics and the Mayo Clinic to "identify the cause of post-concussion headaches."

Researchers are testing whether a drug meant to help migraine pain can also help headaches caused by concussions.

The drug is blocks a substance elevated in patients with migraines. That substance is called calcitonin gene-related peptide or CGRP, for short.

Dr. Frank Porreca is one of the UArizona researchers working on this project.

He, alongside other researchers "administered the anti-GCRP treatment twice, two hours and then seven days after the injury" to mice.

Researchers found the two doses reduced pain responses.

Now that researchers have finished with initial testing, they've moved to clinical trials.

Those clinical trials are currently taking place at Mayo Clinic up in the Scottsdale area, according to Dr. Porreca.