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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.

Positive results from Phosphagenics' TPM Phase 1B clinical study for transdermal delivery of oxycodone

Phosphagenics Limited today announced positive results from a Phase 1B clinical study using the Company’s patented TPM™ (Targeted Penetration Matrix) for the transdermal delivery of oxycodone. The results of the successful trial demonstrate that daily application of a TPM™ patch delivers therapeutic levels of oxycodone into the blood stream in a reproducible, consistent and sustained manner.

2 Feb 2010

YM BioSciences-Cytopia merger complete

YM BioSciences Inc., announced that the merger of Cytopia Limited, the Australian biopharmaceutical company, into YM under a Scheme of Arrangement, has been concluded.

1 Feb 2010

NIDA supports Omeros' Addiction program

Omeros Corporation today announced that the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is providing support for the Company's Addiction program. NIDA will fund substantially all of the costs of a Phase 2 clinical study to be conducted by New York State Psychiatric Institute researchers.

28 Jan 2010

YM BioSciences' nimotuzumab Phase II trials: FDA advises patient enrollment

YM BioSciences Inc., announced that the FDA has advised the Company that it may now enroll patients at US clinical sites into two ongoing randomized, double-blind Phase II trials of its lead product, nimotuzumab. One of the two trials is in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who are ineligible for curative treatment and being treated palliatively and the other in patients with brain metastases from NSCLC. Current NSCLC palliative treatment and treatment for brain metastases is radiation alone.

27 Jan 2010

Taking opioids long term could hold small risk of addition

Coping with chronic non-cancer pain is a way of life for millions of Americans. Unfortunately, many older adults, in particular, hesitate to take opioids — a kind of narcotic — for fear of addiction. However, a new review finds that taking opioids long term is associated with clinically significant pain relief in some patients with a very small risk of addition.

20 Jan 2010

Light sedation decreases postoperative delirium in elderly patients by 50%

A recent study, published in the January issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, demonstrates that in elderly patients undergoing hip fracture repair under spinal anesthesia with propofol sedation, the prevalence of delirium can be decreased by 50 percent with light sedation, compared to deep sedation.

20 Jan 2010

DURECT commences dosing in its POSIDUR Phase III clinical trial

DURECT Corporation announced today that it has begun dosing patients in its U.S. pivotal Phase III clinical trial to evaluate POSIDUR™ (SABER™-Bupivacaine), an investigational drug, for the treatment of post-surgical pain. The pivotal trial, referred to as BESST (Bupivacaine Effectiveness and Safety in SABER Trial), is an international, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial evaluating the safety, efficacy, effectiveness, and pharmacokinetics of POSIDUR in patients undergoing general surgical procedures.

19 Jan 2010

New issue from Annals of Internal Medicine

Prescriptions of some opioids, such as oxycodone, have increased significantly over the past decade. As long-term opioid therapy for chronic noncancer pain becomes more common, the deaths associated with opioids increase.

19 Jan 2010

Lighter sedation during spinal anesthesia reduces postoperative delirium in elderly patients

19 Jan 2010

Study examines how opioid overdose differs by prescribed dose for chronic pain conditions

More and more Americans with chronic pain not caused by cancer are taking medically prescribed opioids like Oxycontin (oxycodone) and Vicodin (hydrocodone). The January 19 Annals of Internal Medicine features the first study to explore the risk of overdose in patients prescribed opioids for chronic noncancer pain in general health care.

19 Jan 2010

Risks associated with opioid pain medications may outweigh surgery risks

Despite limited evidence of long-term success in using opioid pain medications for chronic low back pain, opioid prescribing has increased in recent years for back pain and other non-cancer pain indications.

18 Jan 2010

YM BioSciences announces results of cancer antibody-radionuclide conjugate development collaboration

YM BioSciences Inc. today announced results of a collaboration with researchers at the University of Toronto for the development of highly potent antibody-radionuclide conjugates for use in the treatment of cancer. The approach has successfully concluded its first series of proof-of-principle experiments establishing promise for future development and application.

12 Jan 2010

Woodcock discusses FDA's ongoing initiative to reduce preventable harm from medication use

An article by Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, titled "A Difficult Balance - Pain Management, Drug Safety, and the FDA," appears in the Nov. 26, 2009 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.

5 Jan 2010

Physicians fail to provide pain treatment for fear of prescription drug abuse

Millions of Americans with significant or chronic pain associated with their medical problems are being under-treated as physicians increasingly fail to provide comprehensive pain treatment - either due to inadequate training, personal biases or fear of prescription drug abuse.

5 Jan 2010

Positive results from DURECT's Phase IIb POSIDUR clinical trial for post-surgical pain

DURECT Corporation announced today positive results from a 60 patient Phase IIb clinical trial of POSIDUR(TM), a proprietary product under development for the treatment of post-surgical pain.

17 Dec 2009

BDSI's BEMA Buprenorphine Phase 2 study meets primary efficacy endpoint

BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. announced that the primary efficacy endpoint was achieved in the Company’s Phase 2 pain study assessing the efficacy and safety of BEMA Buprenorphine. The positive results follow BDSI’s March 2009 announcement of favorable Phase 1 study results.

17 Dec 2009

Roche's P2X3 receptor program for chronic pain licensed to Afferent Pharmaceuticals

Roche announced today it has licensed its P2X3 receptor program aimed at developing first-in-class treatments for chronic pain to Afferent Pharmaceuticals. Afferent was co-founded by Anthony Ford, Ph.D., Pappas Ventures, and Third Rock Ventures, and is focused on developing compounds that treat chronic pain by targeting a novel biological pathway.

16 Dec 2009

Pharmacy directors willing to cover tanezumab at lower prices

HealthLeaders-InterStudy and Fingertip Formulary find that 70 percent of surveyed pharmacy directors expect to cover Pfizer's tanezumab if it is approved for the treatment of chronic pain. Tanezumab, which is expected to be the first biologic approved for chronic pain and is administered intravenously under medical supervision, will likely be covered as a medical benefit rather than a pharmacy benefit according to surveyed pharmacy directors.

16 Dec 2009

Update on proposed transaction that will lead to the merger of Cytopia into YM BioSciences provided

YM BioSciences Inc., a life sciences product development company that identifies and advances a diverse portfolio of promising cancer-related products at various stages of development, today provided an update on the proposed transaction which would result in the merger of Cytopia Ltd. into YM, details of which were announced on October 5, 2009.

11 Dec 2009

YM BioSciences announces results of collaborative antibody development program

YM BioSciences Inc., today announced the first results of a collaborative program between YM and the National Research Council of Canada's Biotechnology Research Institute (NRC-BRI). Utilizing YM's IntelliMab(TM) technology, the program is designed to generate novel antibodies that target cell surface receptors associated with cancer, uniquely optimized to produce efficacy with reduced toxicities.

10 Dec 2009

Opioids News and Research

Further Reading

Positive results from Phosphagenics' TPM Phase 1B clinical study for transdermal delivery of oxycodone

YM BioSciences-Cytopia merger complete

NIDA supports Omeros' Addiction program

YM BioSciences' nimotuzumab Phase II trials: FDA advises patient enrollment

Taking opioids long term could hold small risk of addition

Light sedation decreases postoperative delirium in elderly patients by 50%

DURECT commences dosing in its POSIDUR Phase III clinical trial

New issue from Annals of Internal Medicine

Lighter sedation during spinal anesthesia reduces postoperative delirium in elderly patients

Study examines how opioid overdose differs by prescribed dose for chronic pain conditions

Risks associated with opioid pain medications may outweigh surgery risks

YM BioSciences announces results of cancer antibody-radionuclide conjugate development collaboration

Woodcock discusses FDA's ongoing initiative to reduce preventable harm from medication use

Physicians fail to provide pain treatment for fear of prescription drug abuse

Positive results from DURECT's Phase IIb POSIDUR clinical trial for post-surgical pain

BDSI's BEMA Buprenorphine Phase 2 study meets primary efficacy endpoint

Roche's P2X3 receptor program for chronic pain licensed to Afferent Pharmaceuticals

Pharmacy directors willing to cover tanezumab at lower prices

Update on proposed transaction that will lead to the merger of Cytopia into YM BioSciences provided

YM BioSciences announces results of collaborative antibody development program

Event guide: The Non-Opioid Pain Therapeutics Summit eBook

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

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