Content about Pain

October 31, 2011
Performance Health introduces single-use topical analgesic applicator

Performance Health this summer expanded its Perform product family with the introduction of Perform Pain Relieving Singles.

AKRON, Ohio — Performance Health this summer expanded its Perform product family with the introduction of Perform Pain Relieving Singles. The single-use format provides the benefits of cold therapy in an innovative, no-touch, no-mess package that’s small enough to fit in a pocket.

October 27, 2011
Mylan gets green light for MS Contin generic

Mylan has received final approval from the Food and Drug Administration for a drug designed to treat moderate to severe pain.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan has received final approval from the Food and Drug Administration for a drug designed to treat moderate to severe pain.

Mylan said its abbreviated new drug application for morphine sulfate extended-release tablets in the 15-mg, 30-mg, 60-mg, 100-mg and 200-mg strengths was approved by the FDA. The opioid analgesic is a generic version of Purdue Pharma's MS Contin. Mylan said it is launching the product immediately.

Morphine sulfate ER tablets had U.S. sales of approximately $173 million for the 12 months ended in June, according to IMS Health.

October 17, 2011
Archimedes Pharma launches Lazanda for breakthrough cancer pain

Archimedes Pharma has launched a new drug for breakthrough cancer pain, the drug maker said Monday.

BEDMINSTER, N.J. — Archimedes Pharma has launched a new drug for breakthrough cancer pain, the drug maker said Monday.

Archimedes announced the launch of Lazanda (fentanyl) nasal spray for adult patients who have developed a tolerance to opioid therapy for persistent, underlying cancer pain. The drug uses Archimedes' patented PecSys delivery system, which allows the drug to be absorbed across the nasal membrane and directly into the bloodstream. The Food and Drug Administration approved the drug on June 30.

October 10, 2011
Depomed launches shingles drug

Depomed has launched a new drug for treating shingles, the drug maker said Monday.

MENLO PARK, Calif. — Depomed has launched a new drug for treating shingles, the drug maker said Monday.

The company announced the launch of Gralise (gabapentin) tablets, a once-daily treatment for postherpetic neuralgia, the pain that follows healing of the rash associated with shingles.

Gralise is a proprietary formulation of gabapentin that uses patented polymer technology that enables gradual release of the drug. Depomed said it is not interchangeable with other branded or generic gabapentin-based drugs.

 

September 29, 2011
APhA encourages patients to talk to pharmacists about pain, pain drugs

The American Pharmacists Association is marking Pain Awareness Month by encouraging patients to talk with their pharmacists about pain and pain medications they're taking.

WASHINGTON — The American Pharmacists Association is marking Pain Awareness Month by encouraging patients to talk with their pharmacists about pain and pain medications they're taking.

According to a recent report by the Institute of Medicine, more than 116 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, which costs the country up to $635 billion per year.

September 6, 2011
Back pain intensity increases with weight, study finds

Overweight people with lower back pain is more intense than people of normal weight with back pain, according to a recent study published in the Sept. 15 issue of Spine.

PHILADELPHIA — Overweight people with lower back pain is more intense than people of normal weight with back pain, according to a recent study published in the Sept. 15 issue of Spine.

The study sets up another comorbidity associated with being overweight.

August 26, 2011
J&J drug approved for chronic pain

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Johnson & Johnson for treating chronic pain, a J&J subsidiary said Friday.

RARITAN, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Johnson & Johnson for treating chronic pain, a J&J subsidiary said Friday.

The FDA approved Janssen Pharmaceuticals' Nucynta ER (tapentadol) tablets, an extended-release drug for moderate to severe chronic pain in adults for whom a continuous, around-the-clock opioid analgesic is needed for an extended period of time.

August 18, 2011
J&J adds pain drug resources to responsible prescribing site

Johnson & Johnson has launched several new tools on a website aimed at ensuring patients with pain get the drugs they need while staying safe.

RARITAN, N.J. — Johnson & Johnson has launched several new tools on a website aimed at ensuring patients with pain get the drugs they need while staying safe.

J&J subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals added resources and tools to PrescribeResponsibly.com for physicians and pharmacists to support appropriate and responsible treatment of pain. The site was originally launched early last year.

August 12, 2011
Lannett ships morphine product

Lannett announced that it has started shipping morphine sulfate oral solution, a painkiller approved by the Food and Drug Administration in June.

PHILADELPHIA—Lannett has started shipping a painkiller product approved by the Food and Drug Administration in June, the company said.

Lannett announced the shipment of morphine sulfate oral solution. Lannett sought FDA approval using a 505(b)(2) new drug application. Sales of morphine sulfate oral solution at average wholesale price were $31.7 million during the 12-month period ending in June, according to Wolters Kluwer.

August 11, 2011
GSK, XenoPort file sNDA for Horizant

Drug makers GlaxoSmithKline and XenoPort are seeking expanded approval for their restless legs syndrome treatment.

LONDON — Drug makers GlaxoSmithKline and XenoPort are seeking expanded approval for their restless legs syndrome treatment.

The drug makers this week announced the submission of a supplemental new drug application to the Food and Drug Administration, requesting approval for Horizant (gabapentin enacarbil) extended-release tablets as a treatment for postherpetic neuralgia, a nerve pain that commonly is seen in patients with shingles. GSK submitted the sNDA on behalf of the two companies.

August 2, 2011
FDA approves Covidien painkiller

The Food and Drug Administration has approved an opioid painkiller made by Covidien's generic drug division, the medical supply company said.

ST. LOUIS — The Food and Drug Administration has approved an opioid painkiller made by Covidien's generic drug division, the medical supply company said.

Covidien said the FDA approved Mallinckrodt's morphine sulfate oral solution, used to relieve moderate to severe acute and chronic pain in opioid-tolerant patients.

July 25, 2011
Boiron flexes muscle naturally

Boiron is making headway introducing a whole new natural external pain reliever into the mass outlet, having earlier this year won distribution through Walgreens and Duane Reade of its arnica gel Arnicare.

NEWTON SQUARE, Pa. — Boiron is making headway introducing a whole new natural external pain reliever into the mass outlet, having earlier this year won distribution through Walgreens and Duane Reade of its arnica gel Arnicare. And Arnicare already is the natural channel’s fastest-growing homeopathic topical pain relief brand, experiencing growth of 67.5% against sales of $5.9 million for the 52 weeks ended April 17, according to Nielsen. 


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.

June 7, 2011
Lannett gets PDUFA date for morphine sulfate oral solution

Generic drug maker Lannett said that the Food and Drug Administration has assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act action date for one of Lannett's drugs.

PHILADELPHIA — Generic drug maker Lannett said that the Food and Drug Administration has assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act action date for one of Lannett's drugs.

The FDA said it revised its PDUFA goal date of June 23 for Lannett's new drug application for morphine sulfate oral solution.

"With a revised PDUFA date in 17 days, we are preparing for the relaunch of our morphine sulfate oral solution product, if approved,” Lannett president and CEO Arthur Bedrosian said.

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 28, 2011
APF expands PainSafe educational initiative with new information, resources

The American Pain Foundation on Wednesday launched new information and resources on pain medication safety for acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as part of its PainSafe educational initiative.

BALTIMORE — The American Pain Foundation on Wednesday launched new information and resources on pain medication safety for acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as part of its PainSafe educational initiative.

The new information will be launched with a national public service announcement emphasizing the safe use of pain treatment options, particularly medications containing NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen) and acetaminophen (Tylenol and APAP).

April 20, 2011
Government agencies draft plan to curb opioid abuse

The Obama administration is looking to curb the growing national epidemic of prescription painkiller abuse, according to a plan unveiled Tuesday.

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is looking to curb the growing national epidemic of prescription painkiller abuse, according to a plan unveiled Tuesday.

Elements of the plan include expansion of state-based prescription drug monitoring programs, recommendation of convenient and environmentally responsible drug-disposal methods, education and reduction of doctor shopping.

April 4, 2011
ProStrakan announces U.S. launch of Abstral

A drug used to treat pain in cancer patients now is available in the United States.

BEDMINSTER, N.J. — A drug used to treat pain in cancer patients now is available in the United States.

ProStrakan Group announced Monday the launch of Abstral (fentanyl) sublingual tablets. The tablets, which disintegrate rapidly and are placed under the tongue, treat breakthrough pain, common in one-half to two-thirds of people with cancer-related pain.

The drug, an opioid and controlled substance, only is available through a Food and Drug Administration-mandated REMS program. The FDA approved the drug in January.

March 7, 2011
Pain Relief

The OTC Pain Relief Ingredient Guide breaks down the indication, active ingredients, purpose and dosage of OTC internal and external analgesics.

The spring 2011 Pain Relief Ingredient Guide breaks down the indication, active ingredients, purpose and dosage of such OTC internal and external analgesics as Aleve, Excedrin, Bayer, Tylenol, Advil, ThermiPaq, Arnicare, Max-Freeze and Stopain.

Click here for the complete guide.

February 28, 2011
Matrix Labs' gabapentin capsules get FDA OK

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a treatment for shingles made by a subsidiary of generic drug maker Mylan.

PITTSBURGH — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a treatment for shingles made by a subsidiary of generic drug maker Mylan.

Mylan announced Monday the approval of Matrix Labs’ gabapentin capsules in the 100-mg, 300-mg and 400-mg strengths. The drug is used to treat postherpetic neuralgia, a painful complication of shingles.

Gabapentin capsules had sales of about $300 million in 2010, according to IMS Health.

February 22, 2011
Hi-Tech Pharmacal receives market exclusivity for generic Neurontin

Generic drug maker Hi-Tech Pharmacal has received Food and Drug Administration approval for its version of a drug used to treat neurological disorders, the company said Tuesday.

AMITYVILLE, N.Y. — Generic drug maker Hi-Tech Pharmacal has received Food and Drug Administration approval for its version of a drug used to treat neurological disorders, the company said Tuesday.

Hi-Tech announced the approval of gabapentin oral solution in the 250 mg/5 mL strength, a generic version of Pfizer’s Neurontin oral solution.

The drug is used to treat postherpetic neuralgia and epilepsy. Neurontin had sales of $15 million in 2010, according to IMS Health.

February 18, 2011
Burn cream tackles pain, infection, scars

Welmedix’s First Degree therapeutic burn cream provides a unique solution for minor burns that the company suggests is an unmet need at retail. It’s an all-in-one burn cream that helps soothe pain, cool the burn, prevent infection and reduce the appearance of scars.


Welmedix’s First Degree therapeutic burn cream provides a unique solution for minor burns that the company suggests is an unmet need at retail. It’s an all-in-one burn cream that helps soothe pain, cool the burn, prevent infection and reduce the appearance of scars.


January 28, 2011
J&J: Extended-release tapentadol may reduce pain associated with diabetes complication

A drug made by Johnson & Johnson may be effective in reducing pain in patients with a complication of diabetes, according to a late-stage clinical study.

RARITAN, N.J. — A drug made by Johnson & Johnson may be effective in reducing pain in patients with a complication of diabetes, according to a late-stage clinical study.

January 13, 2011
FDA limits amount of acetaminophen in prescription drugs

The Food and Drug Administration is capping the amount of the painkiller acetaminophen in prescription drugs due to the risk of liver toxicity, the agency said Thursday.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration is capping the amount of the painkiller acetaminophen in prescription drugs due to the risk of liver toxicity, the agency said Thursday.

January 10, 2011
Abstral OKed as breakthrough pain treatment for cancer patients

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug for treating pain in cancer patients, the agency said Friday.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug for treating pain in cancer patients, the agency said Friday.

The FDA announced the approval of ProStrakan’s Abstral (fentanyl) transmucosal tablets for the management of pain that appears suddenly for short periods and is not alleviated by a patient’s normal pain-management plan, also known as breakthrough pain. The tablets are designed for administration on the soft surfaces of the mouth, including inside the cheek, gums and tongue, as well as the nasal passages or the throat.