This new formulation is a 'melt in the mouth' tablet which offers a convenient, pleasant-tasting way to treat migraine pain without the need to swallow liquids.

"During a headache, migraine sufferers are looking for a convenient, fast-acting treatment option that will ease their pain anytime, anywhere they are," said Dr Susan Abu-Shakra, associate medical director of Astra Zeneca in the US.

The fast melt formulation of Zomig was first launched in Sweden in September 1999 and is now available in 20 European countries. Worldwide sales of Zomig totalled US$ 237m in 2000, an increase of 31% on the previous year.

AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services. It is one of the top five pharmaceutical companies in the world with healthcare sales of US$ 15.8 billion in 2000 and leading positions in sales of gastrointestinal, oncology, anaesthesia (including pain management), cardiovascular, central nervous system (CNS) and respiratory products.