10 Sep Opioid Buccal Delivery System May Enhance Relief of Chronic Pain
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Lynn Webster, M.D.
Vice President of Scientific Affairs
PRA Health Sciences
(lead study investigator, and former President of the American Academy of Pain Medicine)
Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main advantages of the buccal film?
Dr. Webster: Because of its partial agonist activity and high affinity for mu-opioid receptors, buprenorphine has the potential to precipitate withdrawal in patients who are already on mu-opioid full agonists. As a result, the current practice is to taper patients who are on around-the-clock (ATC) opioid therapy to a morphine sulfate equivalent (MSE) dose before switching to buprenorphine. But tapering can result in a loss of pain control for patients. For this study, we wanted to determine if patients on around-the-clock opioid full agonist therapy could be safely transitioned to buprenorphine HCl buccal film – an opioid partial agonist administered through the buccal mucosa – without the need for an opioid taper, and without inducing opioid withdrawal or sacrificing pain control. Buprenorphine HCl buccal film is the first pain product in development to combine the efficacy of buprenorphine with this unique delivery system, which allows for efficient and convenient delivery of buprenorphine into the bloodstream.
Medical Research: What type of patients may benefit from this new technology?
Dr. Webster: Buprenorphine HCl buccal film is in development for the management of pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment and for which alternative treatment options are inadequate.
Medical Research: When do you anticipate FDA approval and subsequent medical availability?
Dr. Webster: I am an independent investigator and not affiliated with Endo Pharmaceuticals. What I can say, as a physician, I am excited by the potential to broaden the treatment options for patients who are living with chronic pain and require around-the-clock opioid treatment.
Citation:
Buprenorphine HCl Buccal Film for Chronic Pain Management
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Lynn Webster, M.D. (2015).Opioid Buccal Delivery System May Enhance Relief of Chronic Pain MedicalResearch.com
Last Updated on September 10, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD