In the context of the PAINWeek 2015, Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. and BioDelivery Sciences International presented promising data from a “Phase 2 study for the investigational drug buprenorphine HCl buccal film utilizing BDSI’s patented BioErodible MucoAdhesive (BEMA®) drug delivery technology,” according to their Press Release.
The results showed that the participants receiving around-the-clock therapy with an opioid full agonist could switch to buprenorphine HCl buccal film (BELBUCA), receiving roughly half the full agonist dose, without seeing an increase in the risk of experiencing opioid withdrawal or a decrease in pain relief.
What The Findings Mean Going Forward
"Our findings could have important implications for future strategies to broaden the treatment options for patients living with pain who require around-the-clock opioid treatment,” Lynn Webster, M.D., vice president of scientific affairs at PRA Health Sciences, lead study investigator and former president of the American Academy of Pain Medicine explained.Despite Wednesday's good news, Endo International plc’s stock fell 2.1 percent and BioDelivery Sciences International’s stock surged by a miniscule 0.15 percent.
On Thursday, however, both stocks were on the rise. Endo gained more than 0.5 percent, while BioDelivery Sciences returned 5.7 percent.
Good News For BioDelivery
It should be noted, however, that the latter is also surging on another announcement: The company has closed a two-year agreement with Tennessee Medicaid, also known as TennCare. According to the deal, Bunavail, BioDelivery’s opiod-dependence drug, will become “the only buprenorphine/naloxone treatment for opioid dependence to gain preferred coverage status on TennCare's preferred drug list (PDL).” Image Credit: Public Domain© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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