Medicine that blocks two pain-related enzymes to treat migraine
Official title: Developing multitarget enzyme inhibitors as safe and effective anti-migraine treatments
Funded at California State University Hayward · NIH-11128677 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new non-opioid medicine that blocks two enzymes linked to migraine pain is being developed to help people who get severe headaches.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | California State University Hayward NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hayward, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $119,031 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM150781-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11128677 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
In the future, ideal candidates would likely be adults with frequent or severe migraine attacks who are seeking non-opioid treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
People whose headaches are caused by other medical conditions or who already respond well to current migraine drugs may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
Researchers are designing single small molecules that block two pain-related enzymes (sEH and FAAH) believed to drive migraine pain and inflammation in the head. They have discovered several potent compounds in the lab and shown that a lead molecule reduced pain signals in a rat migraine model. Over 2023–2027 the team will optimize these compounds, study how they work in tissues, and test safety in preclinical models before any human testing. This work aims to create a non-opioid option for migraine, but it does not currently involve patient treatment or enrollment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to a new non-opioid migraine treatment with fewer typical side effects and lower risk of medication-overuse headache.
How similar studies have gone: Inhibiting sEH or FAAH separately has relieved pain in animal studies, but making a single drug that blocks both enzymes is a novel approach that so far is mainly at the preclinical stage.
Where this research is happening
-
California State University Hayward
Hayward, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kandasamy, Ram — California State University Hayward
- Study coordinator: Kandasamy, Ram
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.