Opioids News and Research

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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.

Using opioids at end-of-life care proves effective to control pain

Patients who choose to spend their last days at home with specialized care and monitoring can safely be given opioids to control pain and other symptoms without reducing survival time, according to a study published in Journal of Palliative Medicine (JPM), a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

10 Sep 2010

Purdue Pharma to present Butrans Transdermal System CIII clinical program data at PAINWeek 2010

Purdue Pharma L.P. will present data from the clinical program for Butrans™ (buprenorphine) Transdermal System CIII in a series of posters at PAINWeek®2010, September 8-10 in Las Vegas.

10 Sep 2010

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario releases recommendations to target opioid public health crisis

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario released a set of wide-ranging recommendations to target the opioid public health crisis. The College is responsible for regulating Ontario's physicians in the public interest.

9 Sep 2010

C.A.R.E.S. Alliance launches online tools for addressing misuse and abuse of pain medications

The C.A.R.E.S. Alliance, a new patient safety organization, today launched a range of online tools designed to help solve the growing problem of misuse and abuse of opioids by identifying the risks associated with these powerful pain medications. The free resources offered through the C.A.R.E.S. (Collaborating & Acting Responsibly to Ensure Safety) Alliance promote safety in prescribing, dispensing, using, storing and disposing of these commonly abused pain medications.

9 Sep 2010

CTTC's Calmare therapy effective against pain associated with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

Competitive Technologies, Inc. announced today the publication of the detailed results from a study that shows the successful treatment of patients suffering from pain associated with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) using CTTC's Calmare® Pain Therapy Treatment

9 Sep 2010

Progenics commences Phase 3 trial of oral methylnaltrexone for opioid-induced constipation

Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the initiation of an international 700-patient, phase 3 trial of oral methylnaltrexone in patients with chronic, non-cancer pain who are experiencing constipation as a result of their opioid-pain management regimens. The goal of the study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of oral methylnaltrexone to treat opioid-induced constipation (OIC) in this patient setting.

8 Sep 2010

Governments called upon to recognize that access to pain management is a fundamental human right

Health care providers and researchers in the field of pain management are calling for governments worldwide to recognize the rights of people to the access of reasonable care for acute and chronic pain.

3 Sep 2010

CAMH welcomes Ontario's narcotics strategy to address inappropriate use of prescription opioids

The Government of Ontario's narcotics strategy will address the root causes of a significant and growing health problem - the inappropriate use of prescription opioids. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) welcomes the strategy announced by The Honourable Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

30 Aug 2010

Researchers find smoked cannabis reduces chronic neuropathic pain

For people suffering chronic pain, smoked cannabis reduces pain, improves mood and helps sleep, according to new research published in CMAJ.

30 Aug 2010

Study finds common risk factors linked with painkiller addiction

A new Geisinger study begins to unlock the puzzle of painkiller (opioid) addiction - why some people are more likely to become addicted than others. Geisinger investigators have found that patients with four common risk factors have a significantly higher risk of addiction. In addition, a history of severe drug dependence and drug abuse compounds the risk.

30 Aug 2010

Research on OGF-OGFr complex helps to understand pathobiology of diseases

Researchers at The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania have discovered that the Opioid Growth Factor (OGF, [Met5]-enkephalin) and its receptor, OGFr, a clinically important system with potent antitumor properties, has controlled entry from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. The nucleocytoplasmic passage of OGF-OGFr is critical to cell proliferation and suggests that there are hierarchical levels of nuclear import.

24 Aug 2010

Hospira Japan receives approval for long term use of Precedex IV sedative

Hospira Japan Co., Ltd. today announced it has received an approval for the long-term (greater than 24 hour) use of the sedative "Precedex IV™200ug" (generic name: dexmedetomidine hydrochloride). This approval follows Hospira's first launches earlier this year of Precedex in Canada and in South Korea, important milestones for Hospira as the company continues to build the molecule's global presence.

23 Aug 2010

Prescription opioids can be gate way to illicit drug addiction: Study

Thirty-one of 75 patients hospitalized for opioid detoxification told University at Buffalo physicians they first got hooked on drugs legitimately prescribed for pain. Another 24 began with a friend's left-over prescription pills or pilfered from a parent's medicine cabinet. The remaining 20 patients said they got hooked on street drugs.

21 Aug 2010

Elite Pharmaceuticals reports decrease in manufacturing revenue for fiscal first quarter

Elite Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and commercializing oral sustained and controlled release product formulations, announced results for the fiscal first quarter ended June 30, 2010.

17 Aug 2010

NextWave Pharmaceuticals, Tris Pharma sign agreement to enhance CNS product portfolio

NextWave Pharmaceuticals and Tris Pharma, both privately held companies, announced a new collaboration agreement to enhance NextWave's CNS product portfolio utilizing Tris Pharma's unique drug delivery technology for liquid and solid formulations. Tris has reacquired the rights to non CNS products including all the OTC products previously licensed to NextWave Pharmaceuticals.

12 Aug 2010

Endo to acquire Penwest for $5.00 per share

Endo Pharmaceuticals today announced actions designed to advance the company's leadership and growth in pain management, including an agreement to acquire all outstanding shares of Penwest Pharmaceuticals for $5.00 in cash per share, or an estimated enterprise value of approximately $144 million at the time of deal close. Penwest has been working with Endo since 1997 on the development and commercialization of OPANA® ER and receives a royalty stream on net sales of the product.

10 Aug 2010

Morphine plus oxycodone IV combination exhibits improved analgesia, tolerability compared to IV morphine

QRxPharma Limited announced today positive results of its Phase 2 comparative proof-of-concept study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of its IV (intravenous) formulation of morphine plus oxycodone versus IV morphine alone for the treatment of moderate to severe post-operative pain in patients following hip replacement surgery. The main findings demonstrated that QRxPharma's formulation of MoxDuo IV resulted in fewer side effects and offered better pain relief than morphine alone.

9 Aug 2010

NeurogesX net loss for second-quarter 2010 increases to $10.2 million

NeurogesX, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel pain management therapies, today reported results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2010.

7 Aug 2010

FDA approves Tris Pharma's first-time generic of Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Oral Solution

Tris Pharma, a specialty pharmaceutical company that develops innovative drug delivery technologies, announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a first-time generic of Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Oral Solution equivalent to brand name Methylin® Oral Solution marketed by Shionogi Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

28 Jul 2010

Expert to speak on challenges, issues in development, implementation of REMS

At two Food and Drug Administration meetings, Sidney H. Schnoll, MD, PhD, Vice President, Pharmaceutical Risk Management Services of PinneyAssociates, will discuss the need for predictability, feasibility and transparency to ensure that Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies benefit patient safety and public health.

23 Jul 2010

Opioids News and Research

Further Reading

Using opioids at end-of-life care proves effective to control pain

Purdue Pharma to present Butrans Transdermal System CIII clinical program data at PAINWeek 2010

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario releases recommendations to target opioid public health crisis

C.A.R.E.S. Alliance launches online tools for addressing misuse and abuse of pain medications

CTTC's Calmare therapy effective against pain associated with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

Progenics commences Phase 3 trial of oral methylnaltrexone for opioid-induced constipation

Governments called upon to recognize that access to pain management is a fundamental human right

CAMH welcomes Ontario's narcotics strategy to address inappropriate use of prescription opioids

Researchers find smoked cannabis reduces chronic neuropathic pain

Study finds common risk factors linked with painkiller addiction

Research on OGF-OGFr complex helps to understand pathobiology of diseases

Hospira Japan receives approval for long term use of Precedex IV sedative

Prescription opioids can be gate way to illicit drug addiction: Study

Elite Pharmaceuticals reports decrease in manufacturing revenue for fiscal first quarter

NextWave Pharmaceuticals, Tris Pharma sign agreement to enhance CNS product portfolio

Endo to acquire Penwest for $5.00 per share

Morphine plus oxycodone IV combination exhibits improved analgesia, tolerability compared to IV morphine

NeurogesX net loss for second-quarter 2010 increases to $10.2 million

FDA approves Tris Pharma's first-time generic of Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Oral Solution

Expert to speak on challenges, issues in development, implementation of REMS

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

From Puberty to Menopause: Clue’s CEO, Audrey Tsang on the Power of Femtech

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