Words by GOLD newsdesk
A new non-opioid painkiller has been approved by FDA for use in patients with post-operative pain who are being treated in hospital.
Developed by Hyloris Pharmaceuticals, the injectable drug is designed to be a non-addictive alternative to opioid-based painkillers.
Maxigesic IV is a combination of paracetamol and ibuprofen solution for infusion, and it will only be administered when an oral tablet cannot be taken.
In a press release, Stijn Van Rompay, CEO, Hyloris, noted the value of “bringing innovation by reformulating existing medicines”, specifically in the context of the “devastating” Opioid Crisis, which claimed more than half a million lives between 1999 and 2020.
The approval was based on data from a late-stage study that showed the drug to be more effective in relieving pain than commonly used intravenous paracetamol. The drug is expected to be available by early 2024 and will be marketed by Hikma Pharmaceuticals.
Other companies working on non-opioid pain medication include Vertex Pharmaceuticals, which recently completed a successful mid-stage trial into another option for post-operative pain relief.
