BDSI initiates dosing in BEMA Buprenorphine Phase 3 clinical program for chronic pain

BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. (Nasdaq: BDSI) today announced the enrollment and dosing of the first patient in its Phase 3 clinical program evaluating the efficacy and safety of BEMA Buprenorphine for the treatment of moderate to severe chronic pain.

“We believe that with our experienced and enthusiastic investigators, we can progress this program expeditiously and have results available by the third quarter of next year. Positive findings from this study would then allow for an NDA filing in the first half of 2012.”

"Enrollment of the first patient into the BEMA Buprenorphine Phase 3 program marks our continued progress in making this novel treatment available for patients with moderate to severe chronic pain," said Dr. Andrew Finn, Executive Vice President of Product Development at BDSI. "We believe that with our experienced and enthusiastic investigators, we can progress this program expeditiously and have results available by the third quarter of next year. Positive findings from this study would then allow for an NDA filing in the first half of 2012."

According to Dr. Mark A. Sirgo, President and Chief Executive Officer of BDSI, "BEMA Buprenorphine could play an important future role in the treatment of chronic pain and may offer distinct advantages over other marketed opioid analgesics including oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine. These advantages would in part come from the fact that we anticipate it being classified as a Schedule III product, meaning there is a potential for less abuse than Schedule II products. With overall sales of opioid analgesics in the U.S. approaching nearly $10 billion, we believe this represents a significant opportunity for BDSI."

BEMA Buprenorphine utilizes BDSI's proprietary BioErodible MucoAdhesive (BEMA) drug delivery technology, which consists of a small, dissolvable, polymer film for application to the buccal mucosa (inner lining of the cheek) to deliver the opioid analgesic buprenorphine.