Selected items from the News and Latest Additions sections of www.palliativedrugs.com, the world’s leading palliative care website.
Drug updates
New generic buprenorphine sublingual tablets
A branded generic of buprenorphine 200microgram and 400microgram sublingual tablets (Tephine®; Sandoz) has been launched in the UK. They are indicated as a strong analgesic for the relief of severe pain and are bio-equivalent to Temgesic® (RB Pharmaceuticals). The NHS cost of 50 tablets is £5 and £10 for the 200microgram and 400microgram strengths respectively. For more information click here.
Generic buprenorphine 400microgram, 2mg and 8mg sublingual tablets are already available but are indicated for substitution treatment for opioid dependence. Sandoz have also launched a branded generic for this indication in these strengths (Prefibin®).
New combined bupivacaine and fentanyl epidural infusion
A combined bupivacaine and fentanyl solution for epidural infusion has been launched in the UK(Bufyl®,Goldshield). It is indicated for maintaining analgesia post-operatively and during labour and comes in two strengths bupivacaine 1mg/mL (0.1%) combined with fentanyl 2microgram/mL and bupivacaine 1.25mg/mL (0.125%) combined with fentanyl 2microgram/mL. The NHS cost of a 250mL or 500mL infusion bag of either strength is about £9.
CHMP recommends a marketing authorisation for granisetron patch
The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended the granting of a marketing authorisation for granisetron 3.1mg/24h transdermal patch (Sancuso) for the prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with moderately or highly emetogenic chemotherapy. For more information click here.
CHMP recommends a marketing authorisation for generic zoledronic acid
The CHMP of the EMA has adopted a positive opinion, recommending the granting of a marketing authorisation for generic zoledronic acid 4mg/5mL concentrate for solution for infusion intended for the prevention of skeletal related events in adult patients with advanced malignancies involving bone, and the treatment of tumour-induced hypercalcaemia. For more information click here.
AWMSG issues final appraisal for capsaicin 8% patch
The All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG) does not recommended Capsaicin 8% patch (Qutenza® Astellas Pharma) as an option, within NHS Wales, for use on its own for the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain (PNP) in non-diabetic adults.
The Group does recommend capsaicin patch as an option for restricted use within NHS Wales for the treatment of PNP in non-diabetic adults in combination with other medicinal products for pain and in patients who have not received adequate benefit from, or are intolerant to, alternative conventional treatments. Patches should be administered by specialists. For full details click here.
Loron (clodronate disodium 520mg tablets) change of licence holder
Roche Products Ltd has issued a notification of divestment and related new distribution arrangements for Loron (clodronate disodium 520mg tablets). This product is being divested to Riemser Arzneimittel AG and the supplier of Loron to the UKwill change to Intrapharm Laboratories from 2nd April 2012. Loron will be available from all mainline wholesalers and Intrapharm’s distributor Movianto UK Ltd. Intrapharm will continue to sell stock in Roche livery until new stock make-up is available. For more information contact Movianto Order Processing and Customer Service: 01234 248 632, orders.uk@movianto.com or Roche Customer Care: 0800 731 5711.
Prepared by Sarah Charlesworth and Andrew Wilcock