icon
icon
icon
icon
Upgrade
Upgrade

News /

Articles /

SUBLOCADE: Revolutionizing Opioid Use Disorder Treatment with Rapid Initiation and Alternative Injection Sites

Wesley ParkTuesday, Nov 19, 2024 1:02 pm ET
1min read
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Priority Review designation to Indivior's SUBLOCADE, a once-monthly injectable buprenorphine product, for the treatment of moderate-to-severe opioid use disorder (OUD). This designation, with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date set for February 7, 2025, could significantly enhance OUD treatment options, particularly for patients testing positive for fentanyl.

SUBLOCADE's potential label expansion includes rapid initiation one hour after a single transmucosal buprenorphine dose and alternative injection sites, such as the thigh, upper arm, and buttocks. These updates aim to improve patient retention and reduce barriers to treatment, offering a more flexible and convenient approach to OUD management.

Rapid initiation with SUBLOCADE has been shown to significantly improve treatment retention compared to standard initiation. A study presented at the 2024 Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine conference demonstrated a 12% overall improvement and a 15% improvement in the fentanyl-positive group at injection 2, administered just one week after injection 1. This shorter dose interval was designed to achieve and maintain buprenorphine plasma concentrations more quickly at target levels, potentially reducing relapse rates.



Alternative injection sites for SUBLOCADE offer patients more comfort and convenience. A study presented at the 2024 Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine conference showed that patients preferred these alternative sites due to reduced pain and discomfort (Indivior, 2024). Moreover, these sites allow for easier access and better concealment, potentially enhancing treatment adherence by reducing the stigma associated with visible injection sites.

If approved, SUBLOCADE's label expansion could translate into significant improvements in OUD treatment, supporting better retention outcomes for patients, particularly those testing positive for fentanyl. This label change could also reduce treatment initiation time and improve patient comfort and convenience, potentially leading to cost savings from reduced healthcare resource utilization.

In conclusion, SUBLOCADE's potential label expansion for rapid initiation and alternative injection sites could revolutionize OUD treatment, offering patients a more flexible, convenient, and effective approach to recovery. As the opioid crisis continues to affect millions of Americans, innovative treatments like SUBLOCADE are crucial in combating this public health emergency.
Disclaimer: the above is a summary showing certain market information. AInvest is not responsible for any data errors, omissions or other information that may be displayed incorrectly as the data is derived from a third party source. Communications displaying market prices, data and other information available in this post are meant for informational purposes only and are not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Please do your own research when investing. All investments involve risk and the past performance of a security, or financial product does not guarantee future results or returns. Keep in mind that while diversification may help spread risk, it does not assure a profit, or protect against loss in a down market.