The effect of an abuse-deterrent opioid formulation (OxyContin) on opioid abuse-related outcomes in the postmarketing setting

Review of Opioid Abuse-Deterrent Formulations: Impact and Barriers to Access

The misuse and abuse of opioid analgesics continue to pose a serious public health concern, but for some patients, opioids remain an important analgesic option. Extended-release (ER) opioid formulations are effective for treating chronic pain and are supported by multiple 12-week efficacy studies. ER opioids often contain a high opioid content, and similar to immediate-release (IR) formulations, are subject to abuse, misuse, and diversion. Unintentional misuse may also occur when ER formulations are manipulated for medicinal administration, such as crushing a dose for easier oral intake. As part of a multipronged strategy designed to fight the opioid epidemic, abuse-deterrent formulations (ADFs) were developed to deter misuse, abuse, and diversion of opioids by making manipulation more difficult and nonoral routes of administration less rewarding. Although ADF opioids have been shown to decrease rates of abuse and diversion, they are not equally effective in terms of deterring manipulation for abuse or misuse. Xtampza ER utilizes DETERx technology, which allows it to retain ER characteristics when chewed or crushed, making it the only ER opioid without a boxed warning against these types of manipulation. OxyContin was also developed as an ADF but uses RESISTEC technology, making the tablet hard to crush and viscous in aqueous solutions. ADF utilization has been hampered by patient access issues, including high prices due to lack of insurance coverage. Postmarket real-world studies demonstrate lower rates of abuse, misuse, and diversion for ADF ER opioids compared with non-ADF formulations. However, similar studies comparing abuse-related effectiveness and health care costs for ADF opioids are warranted if clinicians are expected to utilize these potentially safer opioid formulations. These studies would support further education surrounding the benefits and utilization of ADFs and manipulation potential of different ADFs.

Multidimensional opioid abuse deterrence using a nanoparticle-polymer hybrid formulation

Misuse of prescription opioid drugs is the leading cause of the opioid crisis and overdose-related death. Abuse deterrent formulations (ADFs) have been developed to discourage attempts to tamper with the formulation and alter the ingestion methods. However, abusers develop complex extraction strategies to circumvent the ADF technologies. For comprehensive deterrence of drug abuse, we develop tannic acid nanoparticles (NPs) that protect encapsulated opioids from solvent extraction and thermal challenge (crisping), complementing the existing formulation strategy to deter injection abuse. Here, we develop a hybrid ADF tablet (NP-Tab), consisting of iron-crosslinked tannic acid NPs encapsulating thebaine (model opioid compound), xanthan gum, and chitosan (gel-forming polymers), and evaluate its performance in common abuse conditions. NP-Tab tampered by crushing and suspended in aqueous solvents forms an instantaneous gel, which is difficult to pull or push through a 21-gauge needle. NPs insulate the drug from organic solvents, deterring solvent extraction. NPs also promote thermal destruction of the drug to make crisping less rewarding. However, NP-Tab releases thebaine in the simulated gastric fluid without delay, suggesting that its analgesic effect may be unaffected if consumed orally as prescribed. These results demonstrate that NP-Tab can provide comprehensive drug abuse deterrence, resisting aqueous/organic solvent extraction, injection, and crisping, while retaining its therapeutic effect upon regular usage.

Differences in severity of poison centers exposures involving XTAMPZA® ER versus other opioid analgesics

Aims: Xtampza® ER (Collegium Pharmaceutical, MA, USA) is an abuse-deterrent formulation (ADF) of oxycodone intended to deter tampering for use by unintended routes of administration. We assessed whether Xtampza ER exposures were less likely to result in severe medical outcomes relative to other opioid analgesic exposures. Materials & methods: Exposures reported to participating poison centers between 2016 and 2021 inclusive that were followed to a known medical outcome were analyzed. Xtampza ER was compared with other ADF opioids, non-ADF extended-release opioids, single-entity oxycodone immediate-release, unspecified oxycodone and unspecified morphine. Results & conclusion: No Xtampza ER exposures involved unintended routes of administration. Xtampza ER exposures were less likely to be abuse, misuse or suspected suicidal, and medical outcomes were less severe than comparators.

The effects of opioid policy changes on transitions from prescription opioids to heroin, fentanyl and injection drug use: a qualitative analysis

BACKGROUND

Beginning in the 1990s, nonmedical use of prescription opioids (POs) became a major public health crisis. In response to rising rates of opioid dependence and fatal poisonings, measures were instituted to decrease the prescription, diversion, and nonmedical use of POs including prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs), pain clinic laws, prescription duration limits, disciplining doctors who prescribed an excessive number of POs, and the advent of abuse deterrent formulations of POs. This paper explores the unintended effects of these policies in the descriptions of why people who use opioids transitioned from PO to injection or heroin/fentanyl use.

METHODS

We conducted 148 in-depth-interviews with people who use prescription opioids nonmedically, fentanyl or heroin from a rural, urban and suburban area in three states, Connecticut, Kentucky and Wisconsin. Interviews with people who use opioids (PWUO) focused on how they initiated their opioid use and any transitions they made from PO use to heroin, fentanyl or injection drug use.

RESULTS

The majority of participants reported initiating use with POs, which they used for medical or nonmedical purposes. They described needing to take more POs or switched to heroin or fentanyl as their tolerance increased. As more policies were passed to limit opioid prescribing, participants noticed that doctors were less likely to prescribe or refill POs. This led to scarcity of POs on the street which accelerated the switch to heroin or fentanyl. These transitions likely increased risk of overdose and HIV/HCV infection.

CONCLUSIONS

A careful analysis of how and why people say they transitioned from PO to heroin or fentanyl reveals many unintended harms of policy changes to prevent overprescribing and diversion. Results highlight the importance of mitigating harms that resulted from policy changes.

An Evaluation of the Effect of the OxyContin Reformulation on Unintentional Fatal and Nonfatal Overdose

OBJECTIVES

OxyContin was reformulated with a polyethylene oxide matrix in August 2010 to reduce the potential for intravenous abuse and for abuse by insufflation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of OxyContin's reformulation on overdose (OD) risk for individuals dispensed OxyContin in comparison to those dispensed other opioids under regular care.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three national insurance databases with National Death Index linkage identified OD in individuals with any dispensing of OxyContin or a primary comparator opioid (extended release morphine, transdermal fentanyl, or methadone) between July 2008 through September 2015. A difference-in-differences design was used to compare the pre-post reformulation changes in OD rates for OxyContin versus comparators.

RESULTS

A total of 297,836 individuals were dispensed OxyContin and 659,673 individuals were dispensed a primary comparator across the 3 databases. Overall, there was little or no difference in the temporal change in OD incidence in comparators versus OxyContin (Medicaid: adjusted ratio-of-rate-ratios (aRoRs) ranging from 0.90 to 1.05; MarketScan/HIRD: aRoR ranging from 1.10 to 1.22). However, restriction to person-time without concomitant opioid use revealed a modestly greater reduction in OD incidence over time during OxyContin use, as the aRoRs comparing the primary comparators to OxyContin ranged from 1.06 to 1.30 in Medicaid and from 1.64 to 1.85 in MarketScan/HIRD.

DISCUSSION

This study did not detect an overall effect of the OxyContin reformulation on OD in insured patients under regular medical care. There is a suggestion of a modestly reduced OxyContin-associated OD risk following the reformulation but only in commercially insured individuals receiving single-opioid regimens.

Defining "Doctor shopping" with Dispensing Data: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

"Doctor shopping" typically refers to patients that seek controlled substance prescriptions from multiple providers with the presumed intent to obtain these medications for non-medical use and/or diversion. The purpose of this scoping review is to document and examine the criteria used to identify "doctor shopping" from dispensing data in the United States.

METHODS

A scoping review was conducted on "doctor shopping" or analogous terminology from January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2020 using the Web of Science Core Collection (7 citation indices). Our search was limited to U.S. only, English-language, peer-reviewed and U.S. federal government studies. Studies without explicit "doctor shopping" criteria were excluded. Key components of these criteria included the number of prescribers and dispensers, dispensing period, and drug class (e.g., opioids).

RESULTS

Of 9,845 records identified, 95 articles met the inclusion criteria and our pool of studies ranged from years 2003 to 2020. The most common threshold-based or count definition was [≥4 Prescribers (P) AND ≥4 Dispensers (D)] (n = 12). Thirty-three studies used a 365-day detection window. Opioids alone were studied most commonly (n = 69), followed by benzodiazepines and stimulants (n = 5 and n = 2, respectively). Only 39 (41%) studies provided specific drug lists with active ingredients.

CONCLUSION

Relatively simple P × D criteria for identifying "doctor shopping" are still the dominant paradigm with the need for on-going validation. The value of P × D criteria may change through time with more diverse methods applied to dispensing data emerging.

Abuse-deterrent extended-release oxycodone and risk of opioid-related harm

AIM

To establish and quantify the association between abuse-deterrent formulation (ADF) oxycodone and 1-year risk of opioid-related harm.

DESIGN

Propensity score-matched cohort study of electronic medical records for years 2014-18, with patients followed up for 1 year after their index health-care visit.

SETTING

More than 70 million patients from 56 US health-care organizations.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients aged 18-64 years at index health-care visit with any indication for an oral opioid analgesic, with no past 12-month history of oral oxycodone use or substance use disorder, and who were alive at the end of the 1-year follow-up (new episode of prescription oral ADF oxycodone [OxyContin], n = 45 045; new episode of non-ADF oxycodone opioid preparation, n = 1 377 359).

MEASUREMENTS

International Classification of Diseases diagnoses of any opioid-related disorder or non-fatal opioid poisoning within 1 year of the index health-care visit. Pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).

FINDINGS

After propensity score matching, 89 802 patients with a mean age of 44 [standard deviation (SD) = 11] years (62% women, 68% white) were included. During 1-year follow-up, 1445 diagnoses of opioid use disorder or opioid poisoning occurred in the ADF oxycodone cohort (34.8/1000 person-years) and 765 occurred in the non-ADF oxycodone cohort (18.2/1000 person-years). The odds of opioid-related adverse outcomes were increased in the ADF oxycodone cohort compared with the non-ADF oxycodone opioid cohort, including for opioid use disorders (OR = 2.02; 95% CI = 1.83, 2.23) and opioid poisoning (OR = 1.64 95% CI = 1.35, 1.99).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with a new prescription of abuse-deterrent formulation oxycodone may be at increased risk of opioid-related harm.

Abuse-Deterrent Opioid Formulations and the Opioid Crisis: A Pharmacist's Perspective

BACKGROUND

For over 20 years, the United States has suffered the detrimental effects of an opioid epidemic. Extended-release opioid products are particularly prone to abuse due to the high amount of opioid present. By bypassing the controlled-release mechanisms and nonoral administration, individuals experience intense and dangerous "highs." Abuse-deterrent opioid formulations have been recommended as a potential solution to the crisis, but widespread utilization has been stunted and their role in therapy remains unclear owing to limited real-world efficacy data and affordability issues. This review discusses abuse-deterrent opioid formulations, the mechanisms and data underlying available products, and a pharmacist's perspective of their role in the opioid crisis.

METHODS

The authors reviewed PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar electronic databases for premarketing and postmarketing studies on OxyContin, Xtampza ER, and Hysingla ER.

RESULTS

Studies showed lower rates of abuse (19% reduction), opioid use disorder (27%), overdose (34%), and fatalities (85%) with the reformulated OxyContin when compared with the original product and comparator opioids. However, these studies revealed the potential for bypassing abuse-deterrent mechanisms and diverting abuse to other drugs. Postmarketing studies are unavailable for Xtampza ER or Hysingla ER, although premarketing studies suggested that some controlled-release properties persist when the product is manipulated, indicating that abuse may be more difficult and less rewarding.

CONCLUSIONS

Abuse-deterrent opioid products may lead to reductions in abuse, overdose, and overdose fatalities. However, cost, loopholes in deterrence mechanism, and possible diversion to other substances hinder their role in the opioid crisis. Multiple approaches must be used to improve opioid safety, and further postmarketing and real-world analyses should be performed on available opioid formulations to assess their impact on abuse-related adverse events.

Non-medical Use of Prescription Stimulants Among College Students: Non-oral Routes of Administration, Risk Factors, Motivations, and Pathways

Introduction: Non-medical use (NMU) of prescription stimulant medications is a continuing public health concern. Stimulant medications prescribed for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are widely available on college campuses, and, as a consequence, college students may have multiple opportunities to engage in prescription stimulant NMU. This online self-report survey examined prescription stimulant NMU among college students, including: (1) patterns of non-oral route of administration (ROA); (2) motivations for non-oral ROAs; and (3) retrospectively recalled pathways of initiation. Method: The survey sample was created from a pool of 3,379 respondents, who were matched to a sampling frame constructed from the 18-26-year-old, college student sample of the 2016 American Community Survey (ACS). About 14% (n = 486) from the overall pool were identified as college students with self-reported prescription stimulant NMU, all of whom completed the survey. The survey covered user characteristics, prescription and illicit substance use, age of first NMU, motivations for NMU, sources of procurement, and ROAs used. Results: Among 486 students reporting prescription stimulant NMU, 43% had a lifetime diagnosis of ADHD. More than 90% reported polysubstance use, with 55% using illicit substances other than marijuana. Slightly more than 2 in 5 (43.3%) reported using illicit substances prior to prescription stimulant NMU, 24.6% used both at the same age, and 32.0% engaged in NMU of prescription stimulants prior to using illicit substances. Prescription stimulant NMU preceded prescription opioid NMU 45% of the time. More than a quarter of those engaged in prescription stimulant NMU (27.9%) initiated prescription stimulants alone or at the same age as other drugs. Most prescription stimulant NMU was oral, however 23.0% reported any non-oral use: snorting (20.4%), smoking (6.0%)and/or injection (3.5%). Non-oral use was associated with being male, obtaining medication from a dealer, use to get high, and/or a substance use disorder diagnosis. Conclusions: Prescription stimulant NMU often occurs in the larger context of other substance use among college students. Injection, an under-researched route for prescription stimulants, was associated with male gender, history of substance use and higher likelihood of illicit substance use. Nearly a quarter of college student survey respondents reported use with non-oral routes, which is associated with other high-risk behaviors. Efforts to reduce non-oral prescription stimulant NMU in college students are warranted.

Veterans Team Recovery Integrative Immersion Process (Vet TRIIP): A Qualitative Evaluation of Participation and Impact

INTRODUCTION

The Veterans Team Recovery Integrative Immersion Process (Vet TRIIP) is a short-term multi-modality complementary, integrative immersion program for veterans with chronic pain, post-traumatic stress, and related symptoms. Geared toward Veterans, active duty servicemembers, family members, and caregivers, Vet TRIIP aims to honor and empower them to create healthy, happy, and productive civilian lives. This study evaluates the program to determine its impact on the quality of life and ways to improve and develop Vet TRIIP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In total, 14 clients participated in the qualitative review of the Vet TRIIP program in San Antonio. The participants were interviewed related to their reason for participating, their most bothersome symptoms and the effects of Vet TRIIP on those symptoms, service provided that is most and least appreciated, suggestions for improvement, and things learned from Vet TRIIP that helped them daily. Responses were analyzed for emerging themes.

RESULTS

The main reasons for participating were physiological and psychological needs, social support, and curiosity to address their reported symptoms such as pain, stress/anxiety, and depression. Vet TRIIP reportedly improved their quality of life and decreased stress. The participants liked most the support of the Vet TRIIP staff and the interventions such as reiki and massage. Other participants did not like acupuncture. Participants suggested the addition of professional psychological services could be helpful. They reported that emotional freedom technique (EFT/tapping) and guided breathing were most useful in their daily lives. Each participant reported that Vet TRIIP was a positive experience that helped with their pain, anxiety, and stress management, providing an improvement in their quality of life. It also imparted an eye-opening experience to nontraditional non-pharmacological interventions for pain, anxiety, and stress.

CONCLUSIONS

Evaluative studies on organizations that support Veterans are useful to gauge the effectiveness and impact. Through this study, Veterans expressed perceived strengths and weaknesses of the program so further development and appropriate services will be provided. Similar studies on the impact of non-profit organizations are encouraged. Vet TRIIP significantly impacts the lives of many through stress and pain reduction, potentially preventing suicide.

Strengths and weaknesses of existing data sources to support research to address the opioids crisis

Better opioid prescribing practices, promoting effective opioid use disorder treatment, improving naloxone access, and enhancing public health surveillance are strategies central to reducing opioid-related morbidity and mortality. Successfully advancing and evaluating these strategies requires leveraging and linking existing secondary data sources. We conducted a scoping study in Fall 2017 at RAND, including a literature search (updated in December 2018) complemented by semi-structured interviews with policymakers and researchers, to identify data sources and linking strategies commonly used in opioid studies, describe data source strengths and limitations, and highlight opportunities to use data to address high-priority public health research questions. We identified 306 articles, published between 2005 and 2018, that conducted secondary analyses of existing data to examine one or more public health strategies. Multiple secondary data sources, available at national, state, and local levels, support such research, with substantial breadth in data availability, data contents, and the data's ability to support multi-level analyses over time. Interviewees identified opportunities to expand existing capabilities through systematic enhancements, including greater support to states for creating and facilitating data use, as well as key data challenges, such as data availability lags and difficulties matching individual-level data over time or across datasets. Multiple secondary data sources exist that can be used to examine the impact of public health approaches to addressing the opioid crisis. Greater data access, improved usability for research purposes, and data element standardization can enhance their value, as can improved data availability timeliness and better data comparability across jurisdictions.

Healthcare Resource Use and Cost: The Impact of Adopting an Abuse-Deterrent Formulation of Extended Release Morphine

Background

Development of abuse-deterrent formulations (ADFs) of prescription opioids (RxO) is an important step toward reducing misuse and abuse. Morphine-ARER (MorphaBond™ ER) is an extended-release (ER) morphine sulfate tablet formulated to deter misuse/abuse via intravenous (IV) and intranasal (IN) routes of administration.

Objective

A model was developed to estimate the budget impact to a hypothetical commercial health plan of 10 million members 2 years after adding morphine-ARER to drug formulary.

Methods

We analyzed incremental health care resource use (HCRU) associated with RxO misuse/abuse based on a health plan’s RxO formulary coverage and patterns of misuse/abuse. Misuse/abuse rates, incremental HCRU and associated costs were based on the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an analysis of claims from OptumHealth Care Solutions, Inc. (2013–2015) and published literature. RxO formulary shares were based on 2016–2017 Symphony Retail Prescription data. Morphine-ARER was assumed to capture 20 and 30 percent from branded and 0.3 and 0.6 percent from generic non-ADF ER morphine, in the first and second years, respectively. Proportions of misuse/abuse deterred by physical/chemical properties of morphine-ARER were assumed to be 90 percent via IV and 60 percent via IN administration, with further IN deterrence based on results from morphine-ARER’s human abuse liability study.

Results

Adding morphine-ARER to formulary resulted in a potential decrease in abuse-related healthcare costs by $557,321 (−$0.00232 per-member per-month [PMPM]), offsetting a pharmacy cost increase of $217,045 (+$0.00090 PMPM), resulting in net cost-savings of $0.00142 PMPM over 2 years, based on certain model assumptions.

Conclusion

Placing morphine-ARER on a health plan’s drug formulary may result in reduced misuse/abuse and overall cost savings.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations in developing a response to the opioid epidemic

Introduction: Opioids continue to be used widely for pain management. Widespread availability of prescription opioids has led to opioid abuse and addiction. Besides steps to reduce inappropriate prescribing, exploiting opioid pharmacology to make their use safer is important.Areas covered: This article discusses the pathology and factors underlying opioid abuse. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties affecting abuse liability of commonly abused opioids have been highlighted. These properties inform the development of ideal abuse deterrent products. Mechanisms and cost-effectiveness of available abuse deterrent products have been reviewed in addition to the pharmacology of medications used to treat addiction.Expert opinion: The opioid crisis presents unique challenges to managing pain effectively given the limited repertoire of strong analgesics. The 5-point strategy to combat the opioid crisis calls for better preventive, treatment, and recovery services, better data, better pain management, better availability of overdose-reversing drugs and better research. There is an urgent need to decrease the cost of abuse deterrent opioids which deters their cost-effectiveness. In addition, discovery of novel analgesics, further insight into central and peripheral pain mechanisms, understanding genomic risk profiles for efficient targeted efforts, and education will be key to winning this fight against the opioid crisis.

Efficacy And Safety Of Controlled-Release Oxycodone For The Management Of Moderate-To-Severe Chronic Non-Cancer Pain In Japanese Patients: Results From An Open-Label Study

Purpose

To assess the efficacy and safety of S-8117, an oral, controlled-release formulation of oxycodone hydrochloride, in Japanese patients with chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP).

Patients and methods

In this multicenter, non-randomized, open-label, 2-part (part 1, dose-titration followed by maintenance period; part 2, long-term administration period) study at 38 centers in Japan (2013-2015), adult patients with CNCP for ≥12 weeks were administered S-8117. The primary endpoint was proportion of patients with successful maintenance of pain control in part 1 and long-term safety in part 2. Secondary endpoints included time to inadequate analgesia, rate of transition to the maintenance period, and discontinuation due to inadequate analgesia/adverse events (AEs), Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) pain severity, BPI pain interference, 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) score, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) index, Subjective Opioid Withdrawal Scale (SOWS), Clinical Opioid Withdrawal Scale (COWS), Dependency-2-A (D-2-A), and Dependency-2-B (D-2-B) questionnaires.

Results

Of 130 patients (mean age, 63.6 years; women, 62.3%) in the dose-titration period, 95 entered the maintenance period; 60 of 83 who entered the long-term administration period completed it. The proportion of patients (95% confidence interval) with successful maintenance of pain control, transition to maintenance period, and discontinuation due to inadequate analgesia/AEs was 78.9% (69.4-86.6), 73.1% (64.6-80.5), and 21.1% (13.4-30.6), respectively. Time to inadequate analgesia could not be estimated. Changes from baseline in BPI, SF-36, and WOMAC index scores suggested improvements in pain relief and quality of life. Based on the SOWS, COWS, D-2-A and D-2-B questionnaires, no patient developed clinically relevant withdrawal syndrome or was ascertained to have developed drug dependence. Overall, the incidence of treatment-emergent AEs (TEAEs) was 93.8%; most common TEAEs were constipation (49.2%), nausea (42.3%), nasopharyngitis (34.6%), and somnolence (32.3%).

Conclusion

These results demonstrate the efficacy and safety of S-8117 in Japanese patients with CNCP.

Modeling the potential impact of abuse-deterrent opioids on medical resource utilization

Objectives: To extend a previously published manuscript on a model for estimating potential avoided medical events and cost savings in the US associated with the introduction of extended-release abuse-deterrent opioids and incorporate new methods of evaluating abuse deterrence using human abuse potential studies. Methods: A model was developed to estimate reductions in abuse-related events and annual savings in the US. Model inputs included: opioid abuse prevalence, abuse-deterrent opioid cost and effectiveness at deterring abuse, and opioid abuse-related events and costs. Direct (medical and drug) and indirect (work loss) cost savings (2017 US$) and abuse-related events were estimated assuming the replacement of the entire extended-release opioid market (brand and generic) by brand abuse-deterrent opioids. Results: Replacing the extended-release opioid market with abuse-deterrent opioids is estimated to lower annual abuse-related medical events by ∼13-31% (e.g. 78,000-186,000 emergency department visits) and lower annual medical costs by ∼$640 M-$1,538 M, depending on the abuse-deterrent technology (physical/chemical barrier or agonist/antagonist). Replacement of extended-release oxycodone with extended-release abuse-deterrent oxycodone is associated with the largest amount of cost savings and highest number of avoided medical events, followed by replacing extended-release morphine with an extended-release abuse-deterrent opioid. Replacement of transdermal fentanyl is associated with the smallest amount of cost savings and lowest number of avoided medical events. Conclusion: Agonist/antagonist abuse-deterrent opioid technology is associated with higher annual medical cost savings and more avoided events than physical/chemical barrier technology. Total net savings are dependent upon the abuse-deterrent opioid price relative to non-abuse-deterrent opioids.

Relative Abuse of Crush-Resistant Prescription Opioid Tablets via Alternative Oral Modes of Administration

Objective

Some crush-resistant tablet formulations (CRTs) reduce prescription opioid abuse by nonoral routes of administration (ROAs), especially insufflation and injection, while oral abuse increases. Oral abuse involving product manipulation vs swallowing whole for CRTs and comparators was examined.

Methods

Abuse by oral modes of administration (e.g., swallowing whole, chewing, dissolving in the mouth), was examined using the ASI-MV, a computerized, clinical interview for adults in substance abuse treatment from January 2009 to March 2015. CRTs (reformulated oxycodone extended-release [ER], reformulated oxymorphone ER, and tapentadol ER) were compared with non-CRT versions, morphine ER, and oxycodone immediate-release single entity. Analyses employed descriptive statistics and logistic regression.

Results

Among 364,329 unique assessments, 18,135 patients reported oral abuse of the CRTs and comparators examined. CRTs had a higher prevalence of oral abuse involving product manipulation than comparators (P < 0.0001) among all abusers of product. Oral abuse involving product manipulation for CRTs was greater among the subset of patients reporting oral abuse and significantly higher than comparators (P < 0.003). CRTs were significantly less likely than comparators to be swallowed whole (P < 0.0001) and significantly more likely to be chewed (P < 0.003). CRTs were more likely to be dissolved in the mouth than most comparators.

Conclusions

Results suggest the need for abuse-deterrent formulations designed to reduce abuse by oral administration with product manipulation, such as chewing. Advances in this area may reduce the overall abuse of prescription opioids and interrupt the progression from abuse by swallowing whole to oral administration involving product manipulation and other ROAs.

Opioids: The Painful Public Health Reality

The analgesic, sedative, antidepressant, euphoriant, intoxicating, and addictive properties of opium and its synthetic derivatives are well known and have been known for centuries. Hence, the current major public health problems due to excessive availability should be no surprise. What is unprecedented in the United States, and emerging elsewhere, is the extent of the profound consequences and complexity of addressing this public health crisis.

Post-marketing studies of pharmaceutical opioid abuse-deterrent formulations: a framework for research design and reporting

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Opioid formulations with properties to deter abuse (abuse-deterrent formulations; ADFs) have been developed as one response to the prescription opioid 'epidemic'. As for all medicines, ADFs undergo evaluation of safety and efficacy prior to registration for marketing. However, reduced extra-medical use (the primary intended outcome of ADFs and reason for their introduction) can only be established in post-marketing observational studies, comparing them to opioid formulations without abuse-deterrent properties. This has implications for various features of study design and analysis. We discuss proposals for the design, conduct, governance and reporting of post-marketing studies on the effectiveness of pharmaceutical and opioid ADFs.

METHODS

A review of current guidance documents, public work-shops and forums and our own experience with post-marketing studies of ADFs.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Research questions for post-marketing studies on ADFs of opioids should reasonably be framed around detecting any probable intended or unintended clinical and/or meaningful changes in specific aspects of extra-medical use (e.g. injection use) and harms. Outcomes reported by prevalence and frequency of occurrence and disaggregated by specific product and route of administration can illustrate the magnitude of ADF impact. We argue that a multi-faceted approach is required, using data from both general population and sentinel high-risk cohorts and from primary and secondary data sources. The comparator (historical non-ADF formulation of that opioid, equivalent current generic or similar opioid product), duration of monitoring and analytical approach require justification and should be sufficient to add weight to conclusions of causality. To maximize transparency, we recommend explicit declarations of funding and conflict of interest, establishment of an advisory committee, publication of study protocol and access to study results.

Pain Management for Patients With Advanced Cancer in the Opioid Epidemic Era

Use of opioids for the treatment of pain is necessary for the majority of patients with advanced cancer, however its use has become challenging in the face of the opioid epidemic and the emerging evidence that patients with cancer are also at risk for nonmedical opioid use. This article proposes an assessment and treatment plan that incorporates universal screening with monitoring for all patients with cancer who are considered for opioid treatment to assess their risk for opioid misuse and harm. Timely identification with appropriate management, including referral of at-risk patients, will allow oncology professionals to optimize the risk-to-benefit and support the safe use of opioids for patients with cancer.

Prevalence of nonmedical use and routes of administration for prescription stimulant medications among adults in a substance abuse treatment population

The aim was to examine prevalence of past 30-day prescription stimulant nonmedical use (NMU) by adults assessed for substance use problems and to better understand patterns of route of administration (ROA) and drug problem severity. Data were collected from a computer administered assessment of substance use problems completed by adults (age ≥ 18) using the Addiction Severity Index-Multimedia Version (ASI-MV^®) as part of the clinical intake process between January 2013 and March 2016. A cross-sectional observational study examined prevalence and prescription-adjusted prevalence of past 30-day NMU of prescription stimulants and compound-specific use by ROA (oral, snort, smoke, inject, other oral, and alternate ROA). Compounds of interest were amphetamine extended-release (ER), amphetamine immediate-release (IR), amphetamine mixed salts, methylphenidate ER, and methylphenidate IR. Of 198,411 respondents, 4,185 reported prescription stimulant NMU, prevalence ranged from 0.33% for methylphenidate IR to 1.61% for amphetamine mixed salts. Prescription-adjusted prevalence of NMU was highest for methylphenidate IR (0.51%) and lowest for amphetamine ER (0.28%). The most common ROA was oral, swallowed whole followed by snorting. There was a greater probability of nonmedical prescription stimulant use among respondents with higher drug severity ratings. Results suggest that one should not overlook the impact of prescription stimulant NMU in adults in treatment for substance use problems. NMU of prescription stimulants was associated with riskier routes of administration than reported for college student samples. A pattern of high-risk alternate ROA and increasing drug problem severity has important implications of substance use evaluation.

Determining Abuse Deterrence Performance of Poly (ethylene oxide) Using a Factorial Design

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of thermal processing and antioxidant formulation variables on the abuse deterrence performance of a high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) polymer.

Methods: A 2⁴ factorial design with one categorical factor (antioxidant type) and three continuous factors (curing time, curing temperature, % antioxidant) was used. Abuse deterrence performance was evaluated using solution viscosity, surface melting temperature, and mechanical strength. Thermal degradation of PEO powders before compaction was also studied using DSC, FTIR spectroscopy, and viscosity analysis.

Results: Our results showed that curing temperature and type of antioxidant can significantly affect the deterrence performance of PEO. The main effect plot for viscosity shows the most prominent factors affecting viscosity are curing temperature and type of antioxidant. However, curvature in the linear model obtained was not sufficient to completely describe the behavior. For surface melting temperature, butylated hydroxytoluene was associated with higher surface melting temperatures compared to ascorbic acid. Additionally, higher percent of antioxidant resulted in higher melting temperature. Particle size distribution to indicate mechanical strength showed no significant effects of tested factors. This suggests that comminution method has more prominent effect on tablet fragment size than the formulation and processing factors studied.

Conclusion: While heat confers the mechanical strength to the polymer, it can diminish its physical stability and solution state viscosity. The experimental studies showed that prolonged exposure to high temperatures, even in the presence of antioxidants, can severely hamper polymer deterrence performance in both solid and solution states.

Relative Oral Bioavailability of an Abuse-deterrent, Extended-release Formulation of Morphine Versus Extended-release Morphine: A 2-period, Single-dose, Randomized Crossover Study in Healthy Subjects

PURPOSE

Morphine ARER is a novel oral, abuse-deterrent, extended-release (ER) formulation of morphine sulfate with physical and chemical properties that deter misuse and abuse by nonoral routes of administration. Here we evaluate the relative bioavailability of morphine ARER and extended-release morphine.

METHODS

This single-dose, 2-treatment, 2-period, 2-sequence, randomized crossover study in healthy adult subjects compared the relative bioavailability of morphine ARER 100 mg to that of ER morphine 100 mg in the fasted condition. At 12 and 1.5 hours before dosing and 12 hours after dosing, all subjects received a 50-mg oral naltrexone tablet to minimize opioid-related side effects. Pharmacokinetic parameters including the AUC_0-t, AUC_0-∞, and C_max of morphine and its metabolite morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) were determined at various times up to 48 hours postdose. The bioequivalence of morphine ARER and ER morphine was determined using an ANOVA of the least-squares mean values of morphine and M6G bioavailability.

FINDINGS

Forty-nine subjects completed the study. Both morphine ARER and ER morphine exhibited peak plasma morphine and M6G concentrations of ∼30 ng/mL and ∼200 ng/mL, respectively, at 3 hours postdose. The 90% CIs of the ln-transformed values of morphine AUC_0-t, AUC_0-∞, and C_max were within the 80% to 125% range for bioequivalence. M6G values also indicated bioequivalence of morphine ARER and ER morphine. The most common adverse events were nausea and somnolence.

IMPLICATIONS

These data show that, in these subjects, morphine ARER was bioequivalent to ER morphine, a treatment for pain with well-established efficacy and safety profiles.

Incidence of nonmedical use of OxyContin and other prescription opioid pain relievers before and after the introduction of OxyContin with abuse deterrent properties

OBJECTIVES

There is an epidemic of nonmedical and extra-medical use opioid abuse, addiction, and overdose. Extended-release oxycodone (OxyContin®), a prescription opioid pain reliever, was reformulated in 2010 to deter its abuse. The aim of this study was to assess changes in the onset of abuse of OxyContin and other opioids among young people and adults after reformulation of OxyContin with abuse-deterrent properties.

METHODS

The study population was U.S. residents ≥ 12 years sampled in National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 2004 to 2015, with subsample of 12-21-year-olds. Nonmedical and extra-medical use is the NSDUH proxy for abuse. Confidential audio-computer-assisted self-interviews were assessed. Age-specific incidence of nonmedical and extra-medical use of OxyContin and other prescription opioids were estimated year by year. Interrupted-time-series and age-period-cohort analyses were analyzed.

RESULTS

Interrupted-time-series analysis showed a lower incidence of OxyContin nonmedical and extra-medical use after 2010 reformulation compared to the counterfactual predicted by the trend before 2010. No such difference was seen for other prescription opioids for all ages, although a lower incidence was also observed for other prescription opioids among 12-21-year-olds. Among 12-21-year-olds, a robustly lower incidence was found in 2012 compared to 2010 for OxyContin after holding constant age and cohort effects, whereas no robust difference was observed for other prescription opioids. The results showed 137,500 fewer newly incident cases of OxyContin nonmedical and extra-medical use per year.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides evidence supporting the role of OxyContin reformulation in the reduction of onset of OxyContin nonmedical and extra-medical use.

Possible Opioid Shopping and its Correlates

BACKGROUND

We created an operational definition of possible opioid shopping in US commercial health insurance data and examined its correlates.

METHODS

The population consisted of 264,204 treatment courses in persons with a fill for an opioid or diuretic prescription in 2012 and a second within 18 months. We examined counts of prescribers and pharmacies and the numbers of fills and overlaps for ability to discriminate courses of opioids from diuretics, which were a negative control. The most discriminatory measure, indicating possible shopping behavior, was cross-tabulated against other prescriptions filled and diagnoses as found in insurance claims. The associations between claims characteristics and shopping behavior were assessed in a logistic regression.

RESULTS

A definition that classified possible "moderate" or "extensive" shopping when a person obtained drug through at least 3 practices and at least 3 pharmacies over 18 months was highly discriminatory between opioid and diuretic treatment. Overlaps between fills and number of fills did not improve the discrimination. Data from insurance claims strongly predicted moderate-to-extensive levels of possible shopping (c=0.82). Prominent among 20 significant predictors were: state of residence; amount of opioid dispensed; self-payment; use of nonspecialist prescribers; high use of anxiolytics, hypnotics, psychostimulants, and antipsychotics; and use of both immediate release and extended-release or long-acting opioids.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of ≥3 prescribing practices and ≥3 dispensing pharmacies over 18 months sharply discriminated courses of opioid treatment from courses of diuretics. This pattern of fills was additionally associated with the numbers of nonspecialist and self-paid fills, the total morphine milligram equivalents dispensed, and heavier use of drugs for anxiety, sleep, attention, and psychosis.

Abuse-deterrent Opioid Formulations

Abuse-deterrent opioid formulations have been suggested as one way to decrease the abuse, addiction, and overdose of orally prescribed opioids. Ten oral opioid formulations have received abuse-deterrent labeling by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Their properties consist of physical and/or chemical means by which the pills resist manipulation and create a barrier to unintended administration, such as chewing, nasal snorting, smoking, and intravenous injection. In this review, we describe the mechanisms of abuse-deterrent technology, the types of premarketing studies required for FDA approval, the pharmacology of the currently approved abuse-deterrent opioid formulations, and the evidence for and against their influence on opioid abuse. We conclude that there is currently insufficient evidence to indicate that the availability of abuse-deterrent opioid formulations has altered the trajectory of opioid overdose and addiction; however, postmarketing studies are in their infancy, and novel deterrent formulations are continually being developed and submitted for marketing approval.

Intranasal Pharmacokinetics of Morphine ARER, a Novel Abuse-Deterrent Formulation: Results from a Randomized, Double-Blind, Four-Way Crossover Study in Nondependent, Opioid-Experienced Subjects

Objective

To investigate the pharmacokinetics (PK) of Morphine ARER, an extended-release (ER), abuse-deterrent formulation of morphine sulfate after oral and intranasal administration.

Methods

This randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled, four-way crossover study assessed the PK of morphine and its active metabolite, M6G, from crushed intranasal Morphine ARER and intact oral Morphine ARER compared with crushed intranasal ER morphine following administration to nondependent, recreational opioid users. The correlation between morphine PK and the pharmacodynamic parameter of drug liking, a measure of abuse potential, was also evaluated.

Results

Mean maximum observed plasma concentration (C_max) for morphine was lower with crushed intranasal Morphine ARER (26.2 ng/mL) and intact oral Morphine ARER (18.6 ng/mL), compared with crushed intranasal ER morphine (49.5 ng/mL). The time to C_max (T_max) was the same for intact oral and crushed intranasal Morphine ARER (1.6 hours) and longer for crushed intranasal morphine ER (1.1 hours). Higher mean maximum morphine C_max, T_max, and abuse quotient (C_max/T_max) were positively correlated with maximum effect for drug liking (R² ≥ 0.9795).

Conclusion

These data suggest that Morphine ARER maintains its ER profile despite physical manipulation and intranasal administration, which may be predictive of a lower intranasal abuse potential compared with ER morphine.

Are Prescription Opioids Driving the Opioid Crisis? Assumptions vs Facts

Objective

Sharp increases in opioid prescriptions, and associated increases in overdose deaths in the 2000s, evoked widespread calls to change perceptions of opioid analgesics. Medical literature discussions of opioid analgesics began emphasizing patient and public health hazards. Repetitive exposure to this information may influence physician assumptions. While highly consequential to patients with pain whose function and quality of life may benefit from opioid analgesics, current assumptions about prescription opioid analgesics, including their role in the ongoing opioid overdose epidemic, have not been scrutinized.

Methods

Information was obtained by searching PubMed, governmental agency websites, and conference proceedings.

Results

Opioid analgesic prescribing and associated overdose deaths both peaked around 2011 and are in long-term decline; the sharp overdose increase recorded in 2014 was driven by illicit fentanyl and heroin. Nonmethadone prescription opioid analgesic deaths, in the absence of co-ingested benzodiazepines, alcohol, or other central nervous system/respiratory depressants, are infrequent. Within five years of initial prescription opioid misuse, 3.6% initiate heroin use. The United States consumes 80% of the world opioid supply, but opioid access is nonexistent for 80% and severely restricted for 4.1% of the global population.

Conclusions

Many current assumptions about opioid analgesics are ill-founded. Illicit fentanyl and heroin, not opioid prescribing, now fuel the current opioid overdose epidemic. National discussion has often neglected the potentially devastating effects of uncontrolled chronic pain. Opioid analgesic prescribing and related overdoses are in decline, at great cost to patients with pain who have benefited or may benefit from, but cannot access, opioid analgesic therapy.

Abuse-deterrent opioids: an update on current approaches and considerations

OBJECTIVE

Abuse and misuse of prescription opioids is a significant public health concern. This review examines the strategies used to confer abuse-deterrent properties on opioid abuse-deterrent formulations (ADFs), the characteristics and supporting data for each of the available ADFs, and the role of opioid ADFs as part of a comprehensive opioid risk management plan.

METHODS

A PubMed search was performed for articles published within the last 10 years using the search terms "abuse deterrent opioids". Articles were limited to clinical studies and reviews focusing on United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved opioid ADFs in the US.

RESULTS

There are currently nine extended-release and one immediate-release opioid pain medications with US FDA-approved ADF labelling. All use either physical and chemical barriers or agonist/antagonist combinations to deter manipulation and abuse. Evidence is mounting that introduction of opioid ADFs has been associated with decreased rates of abuse and diversion of opioids in the US.

CONCLUSIONS

Although not sufficient by themselves to prevent prescription opioid abuse and misuse, opioid ADFs are an important component of a healthcare provider's comprehensive opioid risk management plan (along with utilization of prescription drug monitoring programs, clinical assessment tools, urine tests, co-prescribing of naloxone to patients at risk of an overdose, access to non-pharmacological treatments and addiction/mental health resources, among others). Adoption of opioid ADFs should be considered as part of an overall public health opioid risk management plan involving all stakeholders to balance legitimate safe and effective use of opioids against misuse and abuse.

Improving the Clinical Pharmacologic Assessment of Abuse Potential: Part 2: Optimizing the Design of Human Abuse Potential Studies

PURPOSE

This article discusses the conduct of a human abuse potential study as outlined in the Food and Drug Administration Final Guidance to Industry on Assessment of Abuse Potential. In addition, areas where alternative approaches should be considered are proposed.

PROCEDURES

The design, end points, conduct, and interpretation of the human abuse potential study were reviewed, analyzed, and placed in the context of current scientific knowledge and best practices to mitigate regulatory risk and expedite drug development.

FINDINGS

The guidance is based on regulatory needs and current scientific practices. However, the reliability and utility of such studies can be improved with better subject selection, data collection, standardization of data collection and staff training, and a better understanding of the measurement properties of the dependent measures.

CONCLUSIONS

The guidance provides a useful framework for conduct of human abuse potential studies. However, design assumptions, poor choice of end points, failure to consider alternate approaches, and limited experience with interpretation can result in an inadequate study or one that does not fairly represent the abuse potential of a new chemical entity. Methodologic development is needed to strengthen the regulatory framework. The Food and Drug Administration or the National Institutes on Drug Abuse could take a targeted initiative to encourage this work.

Use and Misuse of Opioids in Chronic Pain

The prescribing of opioid analgesics for pain management-particularly for management of chronic noncancer pain (CNCP)-has increased more than fourfold in the United States since the mid-1990s. Yet there is mounting evidence that opioids have only limited effectiveness in the management of CNCP, and the increased availability of prescribed opioids has contributed to upsurges in opioid-related addiction cases and overdose deaths. These concerns have led to critical revisiting and modification of prior pain management practices (e.g., guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), but the much-needed changes in clinical practice will be facilitated by a better understanding of the pharmacology and behavioral effects of opioids that underlie both their therapeutic effects (analgesia) and their adverse effects (addiction and overdose). With these goals in mind, this review first presents an overview of the contemporary problems associated with opioid management of CNCP and the related public health issues of opioid diversion, overdose, and addiction. It then discusses the pharmacology underlying the therapeutic and main adverse effects of opioids and its implications for clinical management of CNCP within the framework of recent clinical guidelines for prescribing opioids in the management of CNCP.

Basic/Translational Development of Forthcoming Opioid- and Nonopioid-Targeted Pain Therapeutics

Opioids represent an efficacious therapeutic modality for some, but not all pain states. Singular reliance on opioid therapy for pain management has limitations, and abuse potential has deleterious consequences for patient and society. Our understanding of pain biology has yielded insights and opportunities for alternatives to conventional opioid agonists. The aim is to have efficacious therapies, with acceptable side effect profiles and minimal abuse potential, which is to say an absence of reinforcing activity in the absence of a pain state. The present work provides a nonexclusive overview of current drug targets and potential future directions of research and development. We discuss channel activators and blockers, including sodium channel blockers, potassium channel activators, and calcium channel blockers; glutamate receptor-targeted agents, including N-methyl-D-aspartate, α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid, and metabotropic receptors. Furthermore, we discuss therapeutics targeted at γ-aminobutyric acid, α2-adrenergic, and opioid receptors. We also considered antagonists of angiotensin 2 and Toll receptors and agonists/antagonists of adenosine, purine receptors, and cannabinoids. Novel targets considered are those focusing on lipid mediators and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Of interest is development of novel targeting strategies, which produce long-term alterations in pain signaling, including viral transfection and toxins. We consider issues in the development of druggable molecules, including preclinical screening. While there are examples of successful translation, mechanistically promising preclinical candidates may unexpectedly fail during clinical trials because the preclinical models may not recapitulate the particular human pain condition being addressed. Molecular target characterization can diminish the disconnect between preclinical and humans' targets, which should assist in developing nonaddictive analgesics.

Breaking barriers to novel analgesic drug development

Acute and chronic pain complaints, although common, are generally poorly served by existing therapies. This unmet clinical need reflects a failure to develop novel classes of analgesics with superior efficacy, diminished adverse effects and a lower abuse liability than those currently available. Reasons for this include the heterogeneity of clinical pain conditions, the complexity and diversity of underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, and the unreliability of some preclinical pain models. However, recent advances in our understanding of the neurobiology of pain are beginning to offer opportunities for developing novel therapeutic strategies and revisiting existing targets, including modulating ion channels, enzymes and G-protein-coupled receptors.

Medical outcomes associated with prescription opioid abuse via oral and non-oral routes of administration

BACKGROUND

Prescription opioid abuse and misuse is a serious and growing public health issue. While the most common form of abuse is swallowing intact tablets/capsules, some abusers manipulate, or tamper with, these medications by altering the dosage form to allow for non-oral routes of administration (e.g., injection, inhalation) in order to achieve more rapid or enhanced psychoactive effects. Because administration of opioids via non-oral routes results in greater systemic availability and more rapid central nervous system penetration, we hypothesized that death and major medical outcomes occur more frequently with non-oral routes compared to oral route alone.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from the Researched Abuse, Diversion and Addiction-Related Surveillance (RADARS) System Poison Center Program to investigate relative risk of prescription opioid abuse via oral and non-oral routes.

RESULTS

While the oral route was the most commonly reported route of abuse (64.0%), non-oral routes were reported in 14.6% exposures and unknown routes in 21.4% exposures. The relative risk of an exposure resulting in death or major effect was 2.43 (95% CI 1.97, 2.99) if non-oral routes were reported compared to exposures involving oral route only.

CONCLUSION

Analysis of acute health events recorded by poison centers indicates that death or major effects are twice as likely to occur with intentional abuse of prescription opioids via non-oral routes of administration than ingestion alone. Effective interventions to prevent abuse via non-oral routes of solid dosage forms of prescription opioids, such as abuse-deterrent formulations could have a significant public health impact.

Assessing the impact of abuse-deterrent opioids (ADOs): identifying epidemiologic factors related to new entrants with low population exposure

OBJECTIVE

Prescription opioid misuse and abuse is a serious public health concern that can lead to overdose, addiction, and death. The development of opioid formulations designed to deter misuse and abuse is considered an important step towards addressing the problem, but the extent to which abuse-deterrent opioids (ADOs) actually deter abuse in the community requires confirmation through epidemiologic studies. Epidemiologic evaluations of misuse and abuse present several unique challenges related to study design, sources of data, and methodology, particularly for new entrant ADOs with low population exposure. The purpose of this article is to review the critical methodologic issues that must be considered when designing an epidemiologic evaluation of prescription opioid misuse and abuse, and deterrence for new entrant ADOs.

METHODS

A systematic feasibility assessment was conducted by critically evaluating and applying epidemiologic principles to combinations of epidemiology study design, study directionality, population, data source, clinical and patient-reported endpoints, type of comparator, effect size, and the ability to control for confounding variables.

RESULTS

Ten epidemiologic factors were identified that are considered key to an epidemiologic evaluation, and the issues associated with each are summarized.

CONCLUSION

Given the low population exposure of new entrant ADOs, there is limited feasibility in conducting the epidemiologic studies necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of these products in deterring abuse. Clear regulatory guidance is needed.

Oral Human Abuse Potential of Oxycodone DETERx® (Xtampza® ER)

Oxycodone DETERx^® (Collegium Pharmaceutical Inc, Canton, Massachusetts) is an extended‐release, microsphere‐in‐capsule, abuse‐deterrent formulation designed to retain its extended‐release properties after tampering (eg, chewing/crushing). This randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, triple‐dummy study evaluated the oral abuse potential of intact and chewed oxycodone DETERx capsules compared with crushed immediate‐release oxycodone. Subjects with a history of recreational opioid use who were nondependent/nontolerant to opioids were enrolled. Treatments included intact oxycodone DETERx (high‐fat, high‐calorie meal and fasted), chewed oxycodone DETERx (high‐fat, high‐calorie meal and fasted), crushed immediate‐release oxycodone (fasted), and placebo (high‐fat, high‐calorie meal). Plasma samples were collected to determine pharmacokinetic parameters. The primary endpoint was drug liking at the moment; other endpoints included drug effects questionnaire scores, Addiction Research Center Inventory/Morphine Benzedrine Group score, pupillometry measurements, and safety. Thirty‐eight subjects completed the study. Chewed and intact oxycodone DETERx were bioequivalent, unlike crushed immediate‐release oxycodone, which yielded higher peak oxycodone plasma concentrations compared with all methods of oxycodone DETERx administration. The mean maximum (peak) effect (E_max) for drug liking was significantly lower for chewed and intact oxycodone DETERx than for crushed immediate‐release oxycodone (P < .01). The time to E_max was significantly longer for chewed and intact oxycodone DETERx than for crushed immediate‐release oxycodone (P < .0001). Scores for feeling high and Addiction Research Center Inventory/Morphine Benzedrine Group scores demonstrated lower abuse potential for chewed and intact oxycodone DETERx compared with crushed immediate‐release oxycodone. Study treatments were well tolerated; no subjects experienced serious adverse events. These results demonstrate the lower oral abuse potential of chewed and intact oxycodone DETERx than crushed immediate‐release oxycodone.