FDA clears addiction drug to treat narcotic abuse

[bemildred]

WASHINGTON — Drugmaker Alkermes Inc. said Tuesday it has received U.S. approval to market its addiction medication for use in patients addicted to narcotics like heroin and morphine.

The Food and Drug Administration approved the company's drug Vivitrol as a monthly injection to treat addiction to opioids, highly addictive drugs often abused for their euphoric effects. Vivitrol is already approved for alcoholism.

Shares drugmaker, which is based in Waltham, Mass., jumped 37 cents, or 2.4 percent, to $16.05 in aftermarket trading. The stock had slipped 20 cents to $15.68 during the regular session.

Vivitrol is designed to block brain receptors that deliver the pleasurable sensations associated with alcohol and drug abuse.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jbRADd0klvgiXMmYuDDH4xdA23VAD9IQG9VG3?docId=D9IQG9VG3

[Duer 157099]

1. Why? Oh, because naltrexone is off patent

nevermind

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. Naltrexone does not work with alcohol, does it?

Your off patent comment is well taken, also.

[Duer 157099]

3. Yes, naltrexone is used for alcohol dependence

last time I checked anyway. No doubt this is a "re-formulation" -- maybe better pharmacokinetics, etc, but most importantly, profits for the pharmas. That's what it's *always* about. imho.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. Last I worked in the field was in 1999.

Thanks for the update.

[evirus]

7. it shouldn't need reformulation to be used on some conditions

if a number of chemical addictions are caused by the same thing, and your drug deals with that cause, than just because you originally marketed the drug for alcoholism doesn't mean you cant, after sufficient medical trials, market it for conditions with a similar cause



(by cause i mean the thing thats making people addict to the substance, not the substance itself)

[HuckleB]

6. Naltrexone has been off patent since the early '90s.

[sam sarrha]

5. i am surprised the Tobacco/alcohol producers allowed this to happen.. must have sneaked it thru

hidden in the Agriculture bill..

we are one step closer to becoming a Civilized society..

Tobacco kills ~1200 people a day, 1080 were addicted as children 13 or older, 520 were addicted at the age 12 or younger.. and i always get Seriously flamed when i share that..

Alcohol is the 4th major health hazard in the USA,

sounds like we should put that stuff in the Water System...

[HuckleB]

8. If this really does what they company says it does, it could be a very good tool for treatment.

The patient has to come in once a month for this part of treatment. That's a big benefit.