Content about Morphinans

November 13, 2012
Study finds fourfold increase in OxyContin prescriptions dispensed near U.S.-Canada border tunnel

The launch of a tamper-resistant formulation of a popular opioid painkiller in the United States, but not in Canada, may have influenced a spike in dispensing rate of the original at pharmacies in Canadian border cities, according to a study.

NEW YORK — The launch of a tamper-resistant formulation of a popular opioid painkiller in the United States, but not in Canada, may have influenced a spike in dispensing rate of the original at pharmacies in Canadian border cities, according to a study.

September 25, 2012
Watson recalls two lots of opioid painkiller

Generic drug maker Watson Labs recalled two lots of a prescription painkiller due to the potential for oversized and overly potent tablets, the company said.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Generic drug maker Watson Labs recalled two lots of a prescription painkiller due to the potential for oversized and overly potent tablets, the company said.

The drug maker announced the recall of hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen tablets in the 10 mg/500 mg strengths based on a customer complaint of tablets that were thicker and darker-colored than the others.

September 24, 2012
Purdue Pharma's RxPatrol provides Twitter updates on pharmacy crime

Pharmacy staff, law-enforcement officials and loss-prevention personnel can follow updates about pharmacy robberies, burglaries and potential threats in their area through Twitter updates by a drug maker that developed a program to combat pharmacy crime.

STAMFORD, Conn. — Pharmacy staff, law enforcement officials and loss-prevention personnel can follow updates about pharmacy robberies, burglaries and potential threats in their area through Twitter updates by a drug maker that developed a program to combat pharmacy crime.

August 21, 2012
FDA approves opioid addiction treatment

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals for treating addiction to opioid drugs, the drug maker said.

RICHMOND, Va. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals for treating addiction to opioid drugs, the drug maker said.

Reckitt Benckiser announced the approval of Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone) sublingual film in the 4 mg and 12 mg strengths, used for the maintenance treatment of dependence on prescription opioid painkillers and heroin. Addiction to opioid drugs is a growing epidemic in the United States, the company said.

July 11, 2012
Senate introduces bill to restrict DXM sales to adults

Sens. Bob Casey, D.-Pa., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, on Wednesday introduced bipartisan legislation to prevent the abuse of cough syrup to get high by restricting the sale of products containing dextromethorphan to adults older than 18 years of age.

WASHINGTON — Sens. Bob Casey, D.-Pa., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, on Wednesday introduced bipartisan legislation to prevent the abuse of cough syrup to get high by restricting the sale of products containing dextromethorphan to adults older than 18 years of age.

July 5, 2012
FDA orders unapproved oxycodone drugs off market

The Food and Drug Administration is asking companies to stop manufacturing and distributing unapproved drugs containing the painkiller oxycodone, the agency said Thursday.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration is asking companies to stop manufacturing and distributing unapproved drugs containing the painkiller oxycodone, the agency said Thursday.

June 8, 2012
CHPA, Partnership at Drugfree.org create DXM-abuse awareness page for teens

Making a direct appeal to teens, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association has created the website DXMstories.org that directly engages young adults around the dangers of dextromethorphan abuse with provocative video clips featuring peer anecdotes.

WASHINGTON — Making a direct appeal to teens, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association has created the website DXMstories.org that directly engages young adults around the dangers of dextromethorphan abuse with provocative video clips featuring peer anecdotes.

May 7, 2012
Purdue Pharma launches free educational resource to combat drug abuse

Drug maker Purdue Pharma has introduced a new educational resource for healthcare professionals designed to curb the abuse of prescription drugs, the company said Monday.

STAMFORD, Conn. — Drug maker Purdue Pharma has introduced a new educational resource for healthcare professionals designed to curb the abuse of prescription drugs, the company said Monday.

January 9, 2012
Endo addresses possible short-term supply of Opana ER, other drugs

Endo Pharmaceuticals announced a short-term supply constraint of analgesic products, including Opana ER, due to the temporary shutdown of a manufacturing facility operated by Novartis Consumer Health.

CHADDS FORD, Pa. — Endo Pharmaceuticals announced a short-term supply constraint of analgesic products, including Opana ER, due to the temporary shutdown of a manufacturing facility operated by Novartis Consumer Health.

December 22, 2011
Actavis, QRxPharma partner to sell MoxDuo IR

Drug maker Actavis is partnering with QRxPharma to sell what the former called a novel pain drug in the United States.

MORRISTOWN, N.J. — Drug maker Actavis is partnering with QRxPharma to sell what the former called a novel pain drug in the United States.

The company said Wednesday that the two had signed a letter of intent to commercialize MoxDuo IR (morphine and oxycodone), which they plan to launch in third quarter 2012.

December 15, 2011
CHPA names Long Island mom to its Five Moms DXM-abuse awareness campaign

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association on Thursday identified Tammy Walsh as the newest mom to join its Five Moms campaign to raise awareness of teen cough medicine abuse among parents.

WASHINGTON — The Consumer Healthcare Products Association on Thursday identified Tammy Walsh as the newest mom to join its Five Moms campaign to raise awareness of teen cough medicine abuse among parents. Walsh is a mother of two teenage boys and a high school math teacher from Northport, N.Y.

According to the 2011 Monitoring the Future report released Wednesday, nearly 5% of teens have abused OTC cough medicines to get high over the past year. While overall abuse has leveled off for eighth and 10th graders, it has declined among 12th graders.

December 12, 2011
FDA approves crush-resistant painkiller by Endo

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new formulation of a painkiller made by Endo Pharmaceuticals designed to thwart drug abuse, Endo said Monday.

CHADDS FORD, Pa. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new formulation of a painkiller made by Endo Pharmaceuticals designed to thwart drug abuse, Endo said Monday.

Endo announced the FDA's approval of a crush-resistant version of Opana ER (oxymorphone). Drug abusers often crush opioid pills in order to smoke, inhale or inject them. Endo developed the new formulation of the drug, scheduled for launch in 2012, using Grunenthal's Intac technology. The new version will otherwise be identical to the old one.

December 7, 2011
CHPA participates in town hall meeting addressing DXM abuse

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association, the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America and the Miami Coalition last week held a town hall meeting on preventing teen cough medicine abuse.

MIAMI — The Consumer Healthcare Products Association, the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America and the Miami Coalition last week held a town hall meeting on preventing teen cough medicine abuse.

The event aimed to raise awareness about the dangers of medicine abuse and included Myriam Masihy from Univision to serve as the mistress of ceremony.

November 8, 2011
Purdue Pharma launches RxPATROL Twitter feed

Purdue Pharma has launched a new way for fighting pharmacy crime, the drug maker said Tuesday.

STAMFORD, Conn. — Purdue Pharma has launched a new way for fighting pharmacy crime, the drug maker said Tuesday.

September 26, 2011
Senate designates October National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month

The U.S. Senate last week adopted a resolution designating the month of October 2011 as “National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month” to raise attention to the problem of prescription medicine abuse, especially by teenagers.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate last week adopted a resolution designating the month of October 2011 as “National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month” to raise attention to the problem of prescription medicine abuse, especially by teenagers.

September 1, 2011
California bans sale of dextromethorphan to minors

California on Wednesday banned the sale of dextromethorphan to minors, becoming the first state to pass such legislation.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California on Wednesday banned the sale of dextromethorphan to minors, becoming the first state to pass such legislation.

July 20, 2011
Purdue launches RxSafetyMatters.org

Purdue Pharma has launched a new website designed to combat abuse of prescription drugs, the company said Wednesday.

STAMFORD, Conn. — Purdue Pharma has launched a new website designed to combat abuse of prescription drugs, the company said Wednesday.

The website, RxSafetyMatters.org, is designed to help healthcare professionals, police and community organizations combat prescription drug diversion and abuse. Purdue is the developer of OxyContin (oxycodone), an extended-release painkiller that is frequently a target of drug abusers.

June 24, 2011
FDA accepts Endo's resubmission for Opana ER

The Food and Drug Administration has accepted a resubmission by Endo Pharmaceuticals of a regulatory application for an opioid pain drug designed to thwart abuse, Endo said.

CHADDS FORD, Pa. — The Food and Drug Administration has accepted a resubmission by Endo Pharmaceuticals of a regulatory application for an opioid pain drug designed to thwart abuse, Endo said.

The agency had declined to approve Endo’s Opana ER (oxymorphone hydrochloride) in January for reasons that the company did not specify, though the agency did not request additional clinical studies in its statement, known as a complete response letter.

June 22, 2011
Pfizer, Acura get FDA OK for Oxecta

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a medication designed to treat acute and chronic moderate to severe pain, where the use of an opioid analgesic is suitable.

NEW YORK — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a medication designed to treat acute and chronic moderate to severe pain, where the use of an opioid analgesic is suitable.

Pfizer and Acura Pharmaceuticals said that their drug Oxecta (oxycodone HCl, USP tablets) is the first tamper-resistant medication designed to deter abuse and misuse with Aversion technology, which is being licensed by Pfizer from Acura.

May 25, 2011
Mylan launches generic Roxicodone through deal with Coastal Pharmaceuticals

Mylan has launched a generic version of an opioid painkiller, the company said Wednesday.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan has launched a generic version of an opioid painkiller, the company said Wednesday.

Mylan announced the launch of oxycodone hydrochloride tablets in the 5-mg, 15-mg and 30-mg strengths. Mylan is launching the drug under a development and supply agreement with Coastal Pharmaceuticals.

The drug is a generic version of Xanodyne’s Roxicodone, a treatment for moderate to severe pain. Oxycodone hydrochloride tablets had sales of about $325 million during the 12-month period ended in March, according to IMS Health.

April 11, 2011
Impax faces generic Oxycontin patent challenge

Another generic drug maker is seeking to market its version of a popular opioid painkiller.

HAYWARD, Calif. — Another generic drug maker is seeking to market its version of a popular opioid painkiller.

Impax said it had filed applications with the Food and Drug Administration seeking approval for a generic version of Purdue Pharma’s Oxycontin (oxycodone) controlled-release tablets in the 10-, 15-, 20-, 30-, 40-, 60- and 80-mg strengths.

Purdue filed suit against Impax on April 8 in the U.S. District Courts for the Southern District of New York, seeking to prevent Impax from marketing its version before the expiration of Purdue's patents.

February 14, 2011
FDA grants Acurox priority review

The Food and Drug Administration has accepted for review an application for a pain medication designed to thwart drug abusers.

PALATINE, Ill. — The Food and Drug Administration has accepted for review an application for a pain medication designed to thwart drug abusers.

Acura Pharmaceuticals announced Monday the acceptance of King Pharmaceuticals’ application for Acurox (oxycodone hydrochloride). King developed the drug using Acura’s Aversion technology, which is designed to limit or impede the ability to abuse the drug by dissolving or crushing the pills and then injecting them.

January 10, 2011
Endo receives complete response letter for crush-resistant Opana ER

The Food and Drug Administration declined to approve Endo Pharmaceuticals’ regulatory application for a painkiller designed to thwart drug abusers, Endo said Friday.

CHADDS FORD, Pa. — The Food and Drug Administration declined to approve Endo Pharmaceuticals’ regulatory application for a painkiller designed to thwart drug abusers, Endo said Friday.

December 20, 2010
King, Acura seek regulatory approval for Acurox

Drug makers King Pharmaceuticals and Acura Pharmaceuticals have submitted a regulatory approval application to the Food and Drug Administration for an opioid pain reliever.

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Drug makers King Pharmaceuticals and Acura Pharmaceuticals have submitted a regulatory approval application to the Food and Drug Administration for an opioid pain reliever.

The two drug makers announced Tuesday the submission for Acurox (oxycodone hydrochloride), an immediate-release tablet for relief of moderate to severe pain.

The tablets use Acura’s aversion technology, designed to deter abuse of the drug by dissolving or crushing the pills.

November 1, 2010
Generics lift Endo’s 3Q

Strong generic sales helped Endo edge analyst expectations for the third quarter, the company noted....

CHADDS FORD, Pa. Strong generic sales helped Endo edge analyst expectations for the third quarter, the company noted.

Net income reached $54.2 million, compared with $49.4 million during the period ended Sept. 30. Net sales jumped 23% to $444.1 million, versus $361 million during the same period a year ago. Analysts had estimated sales of $443.36 million for the quarter.