Purdue to Make Abuse Resistant OxyContin
August 13, 2001
Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin, chose not to use a chemical additive, known as an antagonist, employed by other pharmaceutical companies to prevent misuse of painkilling drugs. Purdue claims it did not anticipate that drug users would crush and inject or snort OxyContin, so the company saw no need to include the additive. If implemented into the manufacturing process, the additive prevents users from getting high if OxyContin is injected or snorted.
Purdue now claims to be developing a drug similar to OxyContin with a narcotic antagonist to prevent its opiate effect if the pill is used improperly. The company cautions that reformulation is a long and tedious process. Initial estimates indicate that this new version of OxyContin may be available in four years.
Drug abuse experts criticize Purdue for not intervening earlier and for failing to address OxyContin overdoses. Even before OxyContin was introduced, other drug companies began developing their products to include antagonists. According to Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) officials, it took all these companies less than one year to create a formula including a narcotic antagonist, as such, DEA officials are concerned about Purdue's timetable for reformulation.
According to Purdue representatives, the antagonist naloxone used in other drugs is not appropriate for use with OxyContin's active ingredient, oxycodone. The company cited a variety of reasons for its choice to use naltrexone rather than the popular naloxone used in competitors' products. Purdue claims that naltrexone is longer-lasting, which makes it a better choice then naloxone.
Drug abuse experts criticize Purdue for not incorporating antagonists earlier. They allege that drug companies are hesitant to include antagonists because the chemicals may decrease addicts' interest in painkillers, thus reducing demand and corporate profits.
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
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