In March, the FDA’s Anesthetic and Analgesic Drug Products Advisory Committee (AADPAC) and the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee (DSARM). voted 18-8 that Opana ER’s benefits do not outweigh its risks. And on June 8th, the other shoe dropped.
"After careful consideration, the agency is seeking removal based on its concern that the benefits of the drug may no longer outweigh its risks," the agency said in announcing the move. “This is the first time the agency has taken steps to remove a currently marketed opioid pain medication from sale due to the public health consequences of abuse."
The FDA said it was asking Endo to voluntarily cease marketing Opana ER. But it added that if the company refuses, the agency will "take steps to formally require its removal by withdrawing approval."
The FDA said its data indicate that the abuse of the drug has shifted from snorting to injection following reformulation in 2012, which was intended to help the pills resist physical and chemical manipulation. Subsequently, Opana ER was associated with a notorious outbreak of HIV and hepatitis C infection in rural Indiana two years ago, caused by needle-sharing among opioid addicts.
"The abuse and manipulation of reformulated Opana ER by injection has resulted in a serious disease outbreak. When we determined that the product had dangerous unintended consequences, we made a decision to request its withdrawal from the market," said Janet Woodcock, MD, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, in a statement. "This action will protect the public from further potential for misuse and abuse of this product."
What can we learn from this action? First, that when a product’s risk/benefit profile is carefully monitored, aggressive action can be taken in a timely manner. But should we need an outbreak of HIV/AIDS and Hep-C to sound the alarm?
Kudos to the FDA for taking appropriate action to protect the public health – but we need more. Specifically we need the agency to work with sponsors o design more and better early warning mechanisms so that a problematic product can we recalled before dire consequences ensue. That means new and more immediate ways to collect, analyze, and share real-world evidence.
It’s time for apps to take center stage in the battle against opioid abuse.
"After careful consideration, the agency is seeking removal based on its concern that the benefits of the drug may no longer outweigh its risks," the agency said in announcing the move. “This is the first time the agency has taken steps to remove a currently marketed opioid pain medication from sale due to the public health consequences of abuse."
The FDA said it was asking Endo to voluntarily cease marketing Opana ER. But it added that if the company refuses, the agency will "take steps to formally require its removal by withdrawing approval."
The FDA said its data indicate that the abuse of the drug has shifted from snorting to injection following reformulation in 2012, which was intended to help the pills resist physical and chemical manipulation. Subsequently, Opana ER was associated with a notorious outbreak of HIV and hepatitis C infection in rural Indiana two years ago, caused by needle-sharing among opioid addicts.
"The abuse and manipulation of reformulated Opana ER by injection has resulted in a serious disease outbreak. When we determined that the product had dangerous unintended consequences, we made a decision to request its withdrawal from the market," said Janet Woodcock, MD, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, in a statement. "This action will protect the public from further potential for misuse and abuse of this product."
What can we learn from this action? First, that when a product’s risk/benefit profile is carefully monitored, aggressive action can be taken in a timely manner. But should we need an outbreak of HIV/AIDS and Hep-C to sound the alarm?
Kudos to the FDA for taking appropriate action to protect the public health – but we need more. Specifically we need the agency to work with sponsors o design more and better early warning mechanisms so that a problematic product can we recalled before dire consequences ensue. That means new and more immediate ways to collect, analyze, and share real-world evidence.
It’s time for apps to take center stage in the battle against opioid abuse.
