Fentanyl News and Research

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Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opiate analgesic similar to but more potent than morphine. It is typically used to treat patients with severe pain, or to manage pain after surgery. It is also sometimes used to treat people with chronic pain who are physically tolerant to opiates. It is a schedule II prescription drug.

Study indentifies unmet medical need for treatment of patients with chronic pain and dysphagia

Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development of innovative treatments for chronic pain, today announced the completion of a research study, conducted with an independent market research firm, that identified a significant unmet medical need for improved treatments for patients with chronic pain and dysphagia/odynophagia. In clinical practice, dysphagia is most often defined as difficulty in swallowing and odynophagia is defined as pain upon swallowing.

22 Apr 2013

Growth in opioid use prompts safety concerns

Prescriptions for opioid drugs have increased significantly in Germany over the past decade, a survey of insurance data has found.

20 Feb 2013

BioAlliance Pharma to extend Validive phase II trial in head and neck cancer

BioAlliance Pharma SA, an innovative Company dedicated to the development of orphan oncology products and to supportive care products, announces the extension of its phase II clinical trial with Validive in the United States in radio/chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis prevention in patients with head and neck cancer.

15 Feb 2013

Study: OEND effectively addresses epidemic of fatal opioid overdose

In a study of communities in Massachusetts with high numbers of opioid overdose deaths, the implementation of overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) was associated with a significant reduction in opioid overdose death rates.

2 Feb 2013

Daily sedation interruption does not benefit critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients

For critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation, daily sedation interruption did not reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation or appear to offer any benefit to patients, and may have increased both sedation and analgesic use and nurse workload, according to a study appearing in JAMA.

19 Oct 2012

FTC votes to approve Watson's acquisition of Actavis

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has voted to approve Watson's acquisition of the Actavis group of companies.

16 Oct 2012

ProStrakan acquires US commercial rights to Fareston for treatment of metastatic breast cancer

ProStrakan Group plc announces today that it has acquired exclusive US commercial rights to Fareston (toremifene citrate) for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

1 Oct 2012

BioAlliance, Vestiq enter licensing agreement to commercialize Oravig in the US

BioAlliance Pharma SA, an innovative Company dedicated to the development of orphan oncology products and to supportive care products, announces the execution of the licensing agreement with Vestiq Pharmaceuticals to commercialize Oravig in the United States for the treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis in adults.

24 Sep 2012

Unique approaches to improve pain management in hospitals and clinical practices

Five recent Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing DNP graduates have taken different and unique approaches in working to improve the implementation of pain management in hospitals and clinical practices.

1 Sep 2012

Mallinckrodt receives FDA approval for 32 mg tablet strength of EXALGO

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has notified Mallinckrodt, the pharmaceuticals business of Covidien, that it has approved a 32 mg tablet strength of EXALGO (hydromorphone HCI) Extended-Release Tablets (CII) for opioid-tolerant patients with moderate-to-severe chronic pain requiring continuous around-the-clock opioid analgesia for an extended period of time.

27 Aug 2012

Fizzy tablet is best method to receive fentanyl for cancer pain

Results of a mixed treatment comparison show that fentanyl in the form of an effervescent buccal tablet can better relieve the intensity of breakthrough cancer pain in the first 60 minutes after dosing compared with other fentanyl formulations.

23 Aug 2012

Enrollment complete in BDSI's pivotal pharmacokinetic study of BNX for opioid dependence

BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. announced that enrollment and the clinical portion of the pivotal pharmacokinetic study for BEMA Buprenorphine/Naloxone (BNX) for the treatment of opioid dependence has been completed.

20 Aug 2012

Electronic PMP use may have impact on demand for drug treatment programs, painkiller abuse

A Rhode Island Hospital researcher has found that the use of electronic prescription drug monitoring programs (PMPs) may have a significant impact on the demand for drug treatment programs and how prescribers detect and respond to abuse of painkillers.

17 Aug 2012

New FDA risk management plan aims to reduce opioid abuse in the U.S.

A new risk management plan from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to help clinicians properly prescribe drugs with addiction potential aims to help reduce the growing epidemic of opioid abuse in the United States.

2 Aug 2012

BioAlliance Pharma, Vestiq enter license agreement for Oravig to treat oropharyngeal candidiasis

BioAlliance Pharma SA, an innovative Company dedicated to the development of orphan oncology products and to supportive care products, announces it has signed a binding term sheet with Vestiq for the commercialization rights in the United States of Oravig (known as Loramyc in Europe) for the treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis in adults.

20 Jul 2012

Edluar for insomnia treatment receives regulatory approval in Europe

Orexo AB is pleased to report that Edluar has received regulatory approval in Europe, according to information supplied by Meda AB, Orexo's global commercial partner for the product.

18 Jun 2012

ProStrakan, Orexo reconfigure commercial rights to Abstral

Orexo AB and ProStrakan Group plc jointly announce today that the companies have reconfigured the commercial rights to the product, Abstral, in various territories worldwide.

4 Jun 2012

Janssen’s NUCYNTA ER tablets more effective in providing pain management in adults with DPN

Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the results of an investigational Phase 3 study suggesting NUCYNTA ER (tapentadol) extended-release tablets were significantly more effective than placebo in providing pain management among adults with chronic moderate to severe, painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

18 May 2012

BioAlliance Pharma commences Livatag phase III trial in hepatocellular carcinoma

BioAlliance Pharma SA, a Company dedicated to orphan oncology products and specialty products, today announces the initiation of ReLive, its phase III clinical trial with Livatag(doxorubicin Transdrug), as scheduled in the advancement calendar of the project.

15 May 2012

BCBSMA institutes enhanced safety measures on coverage for powerful pain killers

In an effort to limit possible prescription narcotic misuse and dependence among its members, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) announced today that it is instituting enhanced safety measures on how it will cover the use of powerful pain killers.

8 May 2012