Suboxone(R) (Buprenorphine/Naloxone) Approved In European Union For Treatment Of Opioid Dependence

Main Category: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Also Included In: Clinical Trials / Drug Trials
Article Date: 07 Oct 2006 - 0:00 PDT

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Schering-Plough Corporation (NYSE: SGP) today announced that the European Commission has granted marketing approval to SUBOXONE(R) (buprenorphine hydrochloride/naloxone hydrochloride) Sublingual Tablets for the substitution treatment of opioid dependence, within a framework of medical, social and psychological treatment. The intention of adding the naloxone component is to deter intravenous misuse. SUBOXONE is intended for use in adults and adolescents 15 years of age and older who have agreed to be treated for addiction.

SUBOXONE currently is the only centrally-approved product for treatment of opioid dependence in the European Union (EU). The approval results in Marketing Authorization with unified labeling that is valid in the current 25 EU member states as well as in Iceland and Norway. The approval follows a positive opinion recommending approval that was granted on July 27 by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA).

Drug dependence is a worldwide public health problem of which opioid dependence, notably involving heroin, is a major component. In Europe, there are an estimated 1.1 million intravenous drug users (IVDUs), of whom more than 70 percent are untreated. In some instances, IVDUs share syringes and needles, a practice that can lead to the transmission of serious blood-borne diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

"There is a pressing need for improved opioid treatment medications with decreased potential for misuse in order to help further expand effective treatment into mainstream medical settings, and thereby improve patient access to treatment," said Professor John Strang, M.D., Director of the National Addiction Centre, London, U.K. "With the approval of SUBOXONE, the European medical and patient communities now have another safe and effective option for managing opioid dependence," he said.

"The European Commission's approval of SUBOXONE represents an important advance in public health," said Robert J. Spiegel, M.D., chief medical officer and senior vice president, Schering-Plough Research Institute. "Opioid dependence is a chronic relapsing medical condition that requires long-term treatment and patient support. SUBOXONE was expressly designed to provide the proven efficacy and tolerability of SUBUTEX (buprenorphine) with a lower potential for misuse."

SUBUTEX(R) (buprenorphine hydrochloride) Sublingual Tablets is an established medical treatment for opioid dependence currently available in Europe, the United States and more than 30 countries worldwide.

Suboxone Clinical Studies

The European Commission's approval of SUBOXONE is based primarily on results of a one-year clinical trial in opiate-dependent patients, comprising a 4-week randomized double-blind comparison of SUBOXONE, buprenorphine monotherapy and placebo tablets followed by a 48-week safety study of SUBOXONE. The primary study comparison was to assess the efficacy of SUBOXONE and buprenorphine individually versus placebo. In the study, SUBOXONE demonstrated similar efficacy and safety to buprenorphine, with a higher percentage of thrice-weekly urine samples testing negative for non-study opiates for both SUBOXONE versus placebo and buprenorphine versus placebo. The reported adverse events during the study for SUBOXONE were similar to those seen with buprenorphine monotherapy and were those generally seen with other opioid-agonist treatments (e.g., headache, withdrawal syndrome and insomnia).

Schering-Plough is committed to conducting additional clinical studies in patients who switch treatments from sublingual buprenorphine to SUBOXONE, as well as in patients who initiate treatment with SUBOXONE.

About SUBOXONE and SUBUTEX

SUBOXONE and SUBUTEX were developed by Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare Ltd. and are marketed in the United States by Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals Inc. Schering-Plough licenses marketing rights to SUBOXONE and SUBUTEX in Europe, Canada and certain countries in the Middle East, Latin America and the Far East from Reckitt Benckiser. Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Reckitt Benckiser PLC, a publicly traded UK firm.

Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals U.S. Statement of Fair Balance

Intravenous use of buprenorphine, usually in combination with benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants has been associated with significant respiratory depression and death. SUBOXONE and SUBUTEX have potential for abuse and produces dependence of the opioid type with a milder withdrawal syndrome than full agonists. Cytolytic hepatitis and hepatitis with jaundice have been observed in the addicted population receiving buprenorphine. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of SUBOXONE or SUBUTEX (a pregnancy category C medication) in pregnancy. Due caution should be exercised when driving cars or operating machinery. The most commonly reported adverse events with SUBOXONE have included headache (36%, placebo 22%), withdrawal syndrome (25%, placebo 37%), pain (22%, placebo 19%), nausea (15%, placebo 11%), insomnia (14%, placebo 16%), sweating (14%, placebo 10%). See full prescribing information for complete information.

What are Opioids?

For more information on what opioids are, and opioid-induced constipation (OIC), please see:
All About Opioids and Opioid-Induced Constipation (OIC)

About Schering-Plough

Schering-Plough is a global science-based health care company with leading prescription, consumer and animal health products. Through internal research and collaborations with partners, Schering-Plough discovers, develops, manufactures and markets advanced drug therapies to meet important medical needs. Schering-Plough's vision is to earn the trust of the physicians, patients and customers served by its more than 32,000 people around the world. The company is based in Kenilworth, N.J., and its Web site is http://www.schering-plough.com.

SCHERING-PLOUGH DISCLOSURE NOTICE: This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to the potential market for SUBOXONE and the Company's commitment to conducting additional future clinical studies for SUBOXONE. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations or forecasts of future events. Schering-Plough does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from Schering-Plough's forward-looking statements, including market forces, economic factors, product availability, patent and other intellectual property protection, current and future branded, generic or over-the-counter competition and the regulatory process, and any developments following regulatory approval, among other uncertainties. For further details about these and other factors that may impact the forward-looking statements, see Schering-Plough's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including Item 1A. Risk Factors in the Company's second quarter 2006 10-Q.

SUBOXONE and SUBUTEX are registered trademarks of Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare (UK) Limited and are used under license by Schering Corporation.

Schering-Plough Corporation
http://www.schering-plough.com

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