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.

Binge drinking, cannabis and prescription drugs still remain a concern among teenagers

While fewer teens are drinking alcohol in 2009 than a decade ago, binge drinking, use of cannabis and prescription drugs remain a concern, according to the 2009 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS) released today by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

19 Nov 2009

Recent data from CNSBio's Phase IIa CNSB015 trial to be presented at the Neuropathic Pain conference

CNSBio Inc. will present recent Phase IIa proof-of-concept clinical trial data for CNSB015, an orally administered potassium channel modulator used in combination with opioids for the treatment of neuropathic pain, at the 12th International Conference on the Mechanisms and Treatment of Neuropathic Pain on November 20-21, 2009 in San Francisco, CA.

18 Nov 2009

Cancer pain drug market to be $3.7 billion in 2018

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that, driven by the continued dominance of opioids that include immediate-release morphine and novel fast acting opioid reformulations, the cancer pain drug market will increase from $2.3 billion in 2008 to $3.7 billion in 2018 in the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and Japan.

17 Nov 2009

YM BioSciences presents preclinical results of its small molecule VDA at the AACR-NCI-EORTC conference

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, announced that preclinical results for CYT997 were presented today in a poster by Cytopia Limited at the 2009 AACR-NCI-EORTC Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics conference in Boston, Massachusetts.

17 Nov 2009

FDA approves NeurogesX's Qutenza patch for postherpetic neuralgia treatment

NeurogesX, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Qutenza(TM) (capsaicin) 8% patch, the first and only product containing prescription strength capsaicin, for the management of neuropathic pain due to postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), the nerve pain which can follow shingles.

17 Nov 2009

FDA approves Par Pharmaceutical's new painkiller drug

Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc. (NYSE: PRX) today announced that it has received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its Abbreviated New Drug Application for the 100mg and 200mg strengths of tramadol ER.

17 Nov 2009

Alkermes' phase 3 trial of naltrexone XR-NTX meets primary endpoint

Alkermes, Inc. today announced positive preliminary results from a phase 3 clinical trial of naltrexone for extended-release injectable suspension (XR-NTX) for the treatment of opioid dependence. The six-month phase 3 study met its primary efficacy endpoint and data showed that patients treated once-monthly with XR-NTX demonstrated statistically significant higher rates of clean (opioid-free) urine screens, compared to patients treated with placebo, as measured by the cumulative distribution of clean urine screens (p<0.0002).

16 Nov 2009

Chronic pain patients with depression three times more likely to receive opioid medications

Chronic pain patients with a history of depression are three times more likely to receive long-term prescriptions for opioid medications like Vicodin compared to pain patients who do not suffer from depression, according to new research.

16 Nov 2009

Abbott signs agreement to acquire global rights to PanGenetics BV's PG110

Abbott announced today a definitive agreement to acquire the global rights to PanGenetics BV's PG110 fully humanized antibody to Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), expanding the company's pain care portfolio and leveraging its expertise in biologics. PG110 is a novel biologic in Phase I clinical trial development that targets NGF for the treatment of chronic pain.

13 Nov 2009

Abbott to acquire the global rights to PanGenetics' new therapeutic for treatment of chronic pain

PanGenetics, an antibody development company which is developing PG110, a humanized antibody to Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), today announced it has entered into an agreement with Abbott under which Abbott will acquire the global rights to this novel biologic. PG110 is currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with osteoarthritis and represents a promising new therapeutic for the treatment of chronic pain.

13 Nov 2009

Adolor commences clinical testing of its oral mu opioid receptor antagonist

Adolor Corporation today announced the initiation of clinical testing of ADL7445, its proprietary, oral mu opioid receptor antagonist for the treatment of Opioid Bowel Dysfunction (OBD). The Phase 1, single ascending dose trial in healthy volunteers will assess safety and tolerability of the compound and will be followed by a multiple ascending dose study in early 2010.

13 Nov 2009

Millennium Laboratories announces new clinical quantitative assay and drug screening tests for healthcare

Millennium Laboratories, a leading provider of therapeutic drug monitoring and education to physicians and staff treating chronic pain patients, announced today the company’s development and validation of a clinical quantitative assay for the new drug tapentadol (Nucynta™) by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

12 Nov 2009

FDA approves Covidien's Abbreviated New Drug Application for CII

Covidien, a leading global provider of healthcare products, today announced that its subsidiary, Mallinckrodt Inc., has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for Oral Transmucosal Fentanyl Citrate (CII).

31 Oct 2009

Data from Phase II clinical trial of NKTR-118 presented

Data from a phase II study demonstrated that oral NKTR-118 improved lower gastrointestinal dysfunction by increasing the frequency of bowel movements in patients with opioid-induced constipation, while simultaneously preserving opioid-mediated analgesia.

28 Oct 2009

Alkermes commences ALKS 37 phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation

Alkermes, Inc. today announced the initiation of a phase 1 clinical study of ALKS 37, an orally active, peripherally-restricted opioid antagonist with potential to block the opioid agonist effects on gastrointestinal motility, commonly referred to as opioid-induced constipation (OIC). The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study will assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic effects of a single oral administration of five doses of ALKS 37 in approximately 40 healthy volunteers.

27 Oct 2009

Positive results from KAI Pharmaceuticals' pain therapeutic program

KAI Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held drug discovery and development company, announced positive preclinical results from its program targeting the gamma protein kinase C (PKC) pathway for the development of novel therapies for pain.

20 Oct 2009

FDA launches web page with information on how to dispose of certain drugs

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today launched a Web page for consumers with information on how to dispose of certain drugs, including several high-potency opioids and other selected controlled substances.

15 Oct 2009

Progenics Pharmaceuticals and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals sign license agreement

Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth under which Progenics is regaining all worldwide rights to the RELISTOR® franchise from Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, which Progenics had previously licensed to Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.

14 Oct 2009

Meda Pharmaceuticals introduces Onsolis for treating breakthrough cancer pain

Meda Pharmaceuticals Inc. today announced the launch of Onsolis(TM)(fentanyl buccal soluble film) in the U.S. for the management of breakthrough pain (BTP) in patients with cancer, eighteen years of age and older, who are already receiving and who are tolerant to opioid therapy for their underlying persistent cancer pain.

13 Oct 2009

QRxPharma signs contractual agreement with Patheon

QRxPharma Limited (ASX: QRX and OTCQX: QRXPY) announced today a contractual agreement with Patheon to manufacture clinical supplies of QRxPharma's controlled release Dual-Opioid(TM) formulation (MoxDuo(TM)CR). MoxDuo(TM)CR is designed to provide 12 hours of pain relief in patients suffering from moderate to severe chronic pain (including cancer, lower back, osteoarthritis and neuropathic).

12 Oct 2009