Opioids News and Research

RSS

An opioid is a chemical that works by binding to opioid receptors, which are found principally in the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract. The receptors in these two organ systems mediate both the beneficial effects and the side effects of opioids.

New anti-abuse formulation of painkiller Oxycodone

It has come to health officials’ attention nationwide that there is a serious rise of abuse of painkillers, especially opioids. Federal officials recently stepped up plans to monitor frequent prescribers and users.

21 Jun 2011

Acura, Pfizer receive FDA approval for OXECTA Tablets to manage severe pain

Pfizer Inc. and Acura Pharmaceuticals Inc. announce the marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of OXECTATM Tablets CII.

20 Jun 2011

Risky behavior, psychiatric disorders and substance abuse contribute to opioid overdose

Deaths related to prescription opioid therapy are under intense scrutiny, prompting those in pain medicine-clinicians, patient advocates, and regulators-to understand the causes behind avoidable mortality in legitimately treated patients.

13 Jun 2011

Ameritox launches Rx Guardian CD, next-generation pain-medication monitoring solution

Ameritox, the leader in pain-medication monitoring, today announced the launch of Rx Guardian CD, its next-generation pain-medication monitoring solution and part of the patented Rx Guardian process.

9 Jun 2011

Enrollment complete in Adolor's ADL5945 Phase 2 clinical study in opioid-induced constipation

Adolor Corporation today announced that it has completed enrollment in its Phase 2 clinical evaluation of ADL5945 in chronic, non-cancer pain patients with opioid-induced constipation (OIC).

6 Jun 2011

Researchers discover a peptide that short circuits chronic pain pathway

Researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine have discovered a peptide that short circuits a pathway for chronic pain. Unlike current treatments this peptide does not exhibit deleterious side effects such as reduced motor coordination, memory loss, or depression, according to an article in Nature Medicine posted online June 5, 2011.

6 Jun 2011

Gabapentin medication induces anorgasmia in older and elderly patients

Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) researchers have found that Gabapentin, a medication commonly used to treat neuropathic pain, seizures and biopolar disease in older and elderly patients, seems to have a higher incidence of anorgasmia, or failure to experience orgasm, than previously reported. This study appears in the current issue of the American Journal of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy.

4 Jun 2011

APS honors recipients of Clinical Centers of Excellence in Pain Management Awards

The American Pain Society, www.ampainsoc.org, today honored the recipients of its fifth annual Clinical Centers of Excellence in Pain Management Awards recognizing the nation's outstanding pain care centers.

21 May 2011

Phase 3 open-label study of RELISTOR presented at American Pain Society meeting

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. today announced findings from two analyses of a Phase 3 open-label study of RELISTOR (methylnaltrexone bromide) presented at the 30th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Pain Society. The meeting is being held in Austin, TX, on May 19-21, 2011.

21 May 2011

Pediatric pain experts discuss safety, efficacy of pain medications in children

Can we be certain that pain medications considered safe for adults, based on extensive clinical data and experience, are equally safe for use in young children? Pediatric pain experts discussed this question today in a panel session at the American Pain Society, www.ampainsoc.org, annual scientific meeting and agreed more short term and long-term clinical data are needed to provide assurances about the safety and efficacy of several pain medications in children.

21 May 2011

Naltrexone improves clinical, inflammatory activity in Crohn's disease patients

Naltrexone reduced inflammation in Crohn's patients in a research study at Penn State College of Medicine.

20 May 2011

Patients with sickle cell disease may require higher, frequent doses of morphine

Frequent episodes of severe pain occur in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and require treatment with potent opioid medications. A new study published in The Journal of Pain reports that SCD patients clear morphine from their blood stream quickly and, therefore, require high doses to achieve optimal analgesia.

13 May 2011

Omeros' PDE7 program expands addiction franchise

Omeros Corporation today announced that its phosphodiesterase 7 inhibitors demonstrated robust efficacy in animal models of nicotine addiction.

6 May 2011

Hebei Aoxing Pharma receives Chinese patent for naloxone sublingual film

Aoxing Pharmaceutical, a specialty pharmaceutical company focusing on research, development, manufacturing and distribution of narcotic and pain-management products, announced that its operating subsidiary in China, Hebei Aoxing Pharmaceutical Group Company, has been granted a patent by the State Intellectual Property Office of The People's Republic of China for naloxone sublingual film.

3 May 2011

NeurogesX first quarter revenue is $3.2 million for 2011

NeurogesX, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel pain management therapies, today reported results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2011.

30 Apr 2011

The Lancet publishes phase 3 clinical study data on VIVITROL for treatment of opioid dependence

Alkermes, Inc. today announced that results from the phase 3 clinical study of VIVITROL® (naltrexone for extended-release injectable suspension) in opioid dependence have been published by The Lancet. The six-month, phase 3 trial met its primary endpoint and showed significantly greater opioid-free weeks among patients treated with VIVITROL, compared to placebo.

28 Apr 2011

Unintentional prescription opioid overdose deaths have reached epidemic proportions in the U.S.

Unintentional overdose deaths in teens and adults have reached epidemic proportions in the U.S. In some 20 states in 2007 the number of unintentional drug poisoning deaths exceeded either motor vehicle crashes or suicides, two of the leading causes of injury death.

26 Apr 2011

Convergence initiates CNV2197944 Phase I study in chronic pain

Convergence Pharmaceuticals Limited, the company focused on the development of novel and high value analgesic medicines, today announced that the first-time-in-man Phase I study of the novel, first in class calcium channel blocker CNV2197944, for the treatment of chronic pain has been initiated and dosing has begun.

22 Apr 2011

Feds announce comprehensive plan to combat painkiller abuse

The new strategy will put increased pressure on the state of Florida, which has a reputation as being "the nation's pill mill."

21 Apr 2011

Stepped up measures to tack rising painkiller abuse

Prescription drug abuse is one of the largest problems in the country say experts and according to White House drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske, the Congress must require special training for doctors and other health care workers before they are allowed to prescribe powerful drugs such as OxyContin.

20 Apr 2011

Opioids News and Research

Further Reading

New anti-abuse formulation of painkiller Oxycodone

Acura, Pfizer receive FDA approval for OXECTA Tablets to manage severe pain

Risky behavior, psychiatric disorders and substance abuse contribute to opioid overdose

Ameritox launches Rx Guardian CD, next-generation pain-medication monitoring solution

Enrollment complete in Adolor's ADL5945 Phase 2 clinical study in opioid-induced constipation

Researchers discover a peptide that short circuits chronic pain pathway

Gabapentin medication induces anorgasmia in older and elderly patients

APS honors recipients of Clinical Centers of Excellence in Pain Management Awards

Phase 3 open-label study of RELISTOR presented at American Pain Society meeting

Pediatric pain experts discuss safety, efficacy of pain medications in children

Naltrexone improves clinical, inflammatory activity in Crohn's disease patients

Patients with sickle cell disease may require higher, frequent doses of morphine

Omeros' PDE7 program expands addiction franchise

Hebei Aoxing Pharma receives Chinese patent for naloxone sublingual film

NeurogesX first quarter revenue is $3.2 million for 2011

The Lancet publishes phase 3 clinical study data on VIVITROL for treatment of opioid dependence

Unintentional prescription opioid overdose deaths have reached epidemic proportions in the U.S.

Convergence initiates CNV2197944 Phase I study in chronic pain

Feds announce comprehensive plan to combat painkiller abuse

Stepped up measures to tack rising painkiller abuse

Event guide: The Non-Opioid Pain Therapeutics Summit eBook

The Critical Role of Sample Storage in Drug Discovery and Development

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

Latest News