Could TENS devices be a potential answer to the opioid crisis? If they are, it’ll be thanks to digital health. Case in point is NeuroMetrix’s Quell device. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) gizmos have been around for decades. But they’ve had a reputation for being unwieldy, with a bunch of wires and pads. “TENS devices have been around […]
Pain Management
Study: Abuse-deterrent opioids are costly and unproven
In an attempt to curb the harrowing opioid crisis in America, drugmakers have developed what they tout as “abuse-deterrent” pain-killers – opioid formulations that are designed to prevent users from injecting the drugs. But a report published this week by the Institute of Clinical and Economic Review found that there isn’t enough evidence to claim that these […]
BioDelivery Sciences beats Q2 rev estimates, misses on EPS
Shares in BioDelivery Sciences International (NSDQ:BDSI) fell today after the pharmaceutical company beat sales estimates but missed earnings expectations on Wall Street with its second quarter results. The Raleigh, N.C.-based company posted a net loss of -$14.9 million on sales of $8.7 million for the 3 months ended June 30, paring losses by 9.7% on sales growth […]
Liposomes triggered by ultrasound enable targeted pain-relief
Researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital have developed a technology to non-invasively trigger the release of nerve-blocking agents, helping to provide targeted pain-relief to patients as an alternative to addictive opioids. The team’s work was published yesterday in Nature Biomedical Engineering. Get the full story at our sister site, Drug Delivery Business News.
Endo swings to Q2 loss on $775m pelvic mesh set-aside
Endo International (NSDQ:ENDP) posted a net loss in the second quarter of this year, citing charges like the $775 million it has set aside to resolve 22,000 remaining lawsuits relating to the company’s vaginal-mesh implants. The generic drugmaker faced other setbacks this quarter, including the FDA asking that Endo pull its painkiller, Opana ER, from the market. […]
MiMedx files IND for Achilles tendonitis trial
MiMedx (NSDQ:MDXG) said today that it filed an IND application with the FDA for the company’s late-stage Achilles tendonitis trial. The 158-patient study is designed to compare MiMedx’s AmnioFix Injectable with a saline placebo injection in the treatment of moderate to severe pain due to Achilles tendonitis. Get the full story at our sister site, Drug […]
DOJ subpoenas Mallinckrodt over opioids
Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals (NYSE:MNK) said yesterday that it received a subpoena from the U.S. Dept. of Justice requesting information related to its marketing practices and sales of opioids. The company, which manufactures only generic and non-promoted branded opioids, said that it has worked to prevent misuse and diversion of its products, pointing to efforts like its testimonies […]
Xavant Tech wins FDA nod for Stimpod non-invasive pain relief neuromod
South African medtech developer Xavant Technology said today it won FDA clearance for its Stimpod NMS460 non-invasive neuromodulation device designed for treating chronic intractable pain. The company said the device is designed for treating chronic pain as well as an adjunctive treatment for managing post-surgical pain, post-traumatic acute pain problems and as an adjunct for […]
AcelRx’s pain relief drug-device combo succeeds in late-stage trial
AcelRx Pharmaceuticals (NSDQ:ACRX) touted device functionality outcomes today from the Phase III trial of its Zalviso drug-device combination product. Zalviso is designed to deliver a sublingual formulation of an opioid, sufentanil, to adult patients with moderate-to-severe pain in a hospital setting using a hand-held, pre-programmed system. The device allows patients to self-administer sufentanil as often as […]
7 ways neurostimulation could make our lives better
Neurostimulation is being used for a lot of different things that go beyond motor disorders and diseases. Neurostimulation is used to stimulate certain parts of the brain’s nervous system. It can be invasive with implants or it can be non-invasive with electrode-filled caps and ear clips. The neurostimulation market was worth an estimated $1.9 […]
Healthcare fund Gurnet Point buys Innocoll’s bioresorbable collagen matrix
Healthcare investment fund Gurnet Point said today that it completed its acquisition of pharmaceutical and medical device company Innocoll. According to the deal, Gurnet Point is slated to buy Innocoll for 1.75 per share in cash and up to $4.90 in cash from a contingent value right, in a deal valued up to $209 million. Get the full […]