Drug Discovery and Development

  • Home Drug Discovery and Development
  • Drug Discovery
  • Women in Pharma and Biotech
  • Oncology
  • Neurological Disease
  • Infectious Disease
  • Resources
    • Video features
    • Podcast
    • Voices
    • Webinars
  • Pharma 50
    • 2025 Pharma 50
    • 2024 Pharma 50
    • 2023 Pharma 50
    • 2022 Pharma 50
    • 2021 Pharma 50
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE

Abuse-Resistant Pain Drug Meets Key Goals

By Drug Discovery Trends Editor | March 9, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – Acura Pharmaceuticals Inc. and King Pharmaceuticals Inc. said the potential abuse-resistant painkiller Acurox met key goals in a pivotal study.

The companies said the drug candidate met all five key goals of abuse-resistance, compared with equivalent doses of oxycodone HCI.

Acurox contains oxycodone, a morphine derivative that is the active ingredient in the drug OxyContin. The drug includes features developed by Acura that will prevent abuse, the companies say. The FDA declined to approve the drug in June 2009, saying it had concerns about the abuse deterrent benefits.

The FDA and the company have agreed that data and studies supporting the drug would be presented to an FDA advisory committee, though the timing of that meeting has not been confirmed. The company was not required to conduct an additional study, but said it conducted the most recent study to provide additional supporting evidence.

Acura’s Aversion Technology is intended to discourage people from getting high by overdosing on Acurox, or by crushing the pills and snorting them, or dissolving and injecting them. If the drug is exposed to water or alcohol, Acura says, the oxycodone gets trapped in a gel mixture, which makes it difficult to get into a needle. If snorted, it creates a burning, irritating sensation in the nose, and because the drug also contains niacin, excess doses cause symptoms such as warmth or flushing, itching, sweating, chills, headache and discomfort.

Shares of Acura, based in Palatine, Ill., rose 9 cents to $5 in after-hours trading, after rising 10 cents, or 2.1 percent, to close at $4.91 during the regular trading session.

Shares of King Pharmaceuticals, based in Bristol, Tenn., fell 7 cents to close at $12.11.

Date: March 8, 2010
Source: Associated Press

 


Filed Under: Drug Discovery

 

Related Articles Read More >

EVEREST lead investigator on why Dupixent sets a new bar for treating coexisting CRSwNP and asthma
Sanders, King target DTC pharma ads but the industry worries more about threats to its $2B R&D model
Zoliflodacin wins FDA nod for treatment of gonorrhea
FDA approved ENFLONSIA for the prevention of RSV in Infants
“ddd
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest news and trends happening now in the drug discovery and development industry.

MEDTECH 100 INDEX

Medtech 100 logo
Market Summary > Current Price
The MedTech 100 is a financial index calculated using the BIG100 companies covered in Medical Design and Outsourcing.
Drug Discovery and Development
  • MassDevice
  • DeviceTalks
  • Medtech100 Index
  • Medical Design Sourcing
  • Medical Design & Outsourcing
  • Medical Tubing + Extrusion
  • Subscribe to our E-Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • R&D World
  • Drug Delivery Business News
  • Pharmaceutical Processing World

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Drug Discovery & Development

  • Home Drug Discovery and Development
  • Drug Discovery
  • Women in Pharma and Biotech
  • Oncology
  • Neurological Disease
  • Infectious Disease
  • Resources
    • Video features
    • Podcast
    • Voices
    • Webinars
  • Pharma 50
    • 2025 Pharma 50
    • 2024 Pharma 50
    • 2023 Pharma 50
    • 2022 Pharma 50
    • 2021 Pharma 50
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE