The Rheumatologist
COVID-19 News
  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed
  • Home
  • Conditions
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • SLE (Lupus)
    • Crystal Arthritis
      • Gout Resource Center
    • Spondyloarthritis
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Soft Tissue Pain
    • Scleroderma
    • Vasculitis
    • Systemic Inflammatory Syndromes
    • Guidelines
  • Resource Centers
    • Ankylosing Spondylitis Resource Center
    • Gout Resource Center
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
  • Drug Updates
    • Biologics & Biosimilars
    • DMARDs & Immunosuppressives
    • Topical Drugs
    • Analgesics
    • Safety
    • Pharma Co. News
  • Professional Topics
    • Ethics
    • Legal
    • Legislation & Advocacy
    • Career Development
      • Certification
      • Education & Training
    • Awards
    • Profiles
    • President’s Perspective
    • Rheuminations
  • Practice Management
    • Billing/Coding
    • Quality Assurance/Improvement
    • Workforce
    • Facility
    • Patient Perspective
    • Electronic Health Records
    • Apps
    • Information Technology
    • From the College
    • Multimedia
      • Audio
      • Video
  • Resources
    • Issue Archives
    • ACR Convergence
      • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
      • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
      • Gout Resource Center
      • Abstracts
      • Meeting Reports
      • ACR Convergence Home
    • American College of Rheumatology
    • ACR ExamRheum
    • Research Reviews
    • ACR Journals
      • Arthritis & Rheumatology
      • Arthritis Care & Research
      • ACR Open Rheumatology
    • Rheumatology Image Library
    • Treatment Guidelines
    • Rheumatology Research Foundation
    • Events
  • About Us
    • Mission/Vision
    • Meet the Authors
    • Meet the Editors
    • Contribute to The Rheumatologist
    • Subscription
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Search
You are here: Home / Articles / Lilly Says New Type of Pain Drug Could Reduce Need for Opioids

Lilly Says New Type of Pain Drug Could Reduce Need for Opioids

May 28, 2016 • By Ransdell Pierson

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version / Save PDF

(Reuters)—Eli Lilly and Co. on Tuesday said it and partner Pfizer Inc. aim to seek approval by 2018 for a new type of pain drug that could be an alternative to opioids for osteoarthritis, chronic back pain and cancer pain.

You Might Also Like
  • Pfizer-Lilly Pain Drug Meets Late-Stage Trial Goals
  • Opioids No Better Than NSAIDs for Chronic Back or Arthritis Pain
  • Tanezumab for OA Pain

The Indianapolis drugmaker said tanezumab, given by injection every eight weeks, could be a far more effective and appropriate alternative for chronic pain than opioids, without their abuse potential.

ad goes here:advert-1
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

“Opioids cause addiction and (overdoses) that are killing more people than traffic accidents,” Jan Lundberg, Lilly’s research chief, says in an interview. “If our medicine proves effective and safe, that would be a huge opportunity.”

Pfizer and Lilly, in a $1.8 billion deal, agreed in 2013 to jointly develop and sell tanezumab for several pain-related conditions, with the companies equally sharing development expenses and future sales.

ad goes here:advert-2
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Tanezumab has proven in large trials conducted by Pfizer more effective than oxycodone, a widely used opioid, and naproxen, the active ingredient of over-the-counter painkiller Aleve.

Tanezumab blocks nerve growth factor (NGF). U.S. regulators in 2012 put a hold on trials of medicines targeting the protein due to concerns they could worsen osteoarthritis in a small percentage of patients.

But the agency lifted the hold last year after new data suggested such risk could be greatly reduced by using lower drug doses and taking other precautions.

ad goes here:advert-3
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Opioids caused 18,893 overdose deaths in the U.S. in 2014, according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine. Another 10,574 overdose deaths were due to heroin, it said, an illegal opioid to which abusers of prescription opioids often turn because of its far-cheaper price.

Andrew Ahn, chief scientific officer of pain research at Lilly, says opioids are effective against acute pain. But he said they have limited and decreasing effectiveness against chronic pain. Even so, he notes many doctors prescribe opioids for patients with long-term back pain, osteoarthritis and cancer.

“So they chase relief with higher and higher doses until they stop breathing,” he said on the sidelines of a company meeting in New York with industry analysts and fund managers.

Although well tolerated so far, some patients taking tanezumab have developed swelling of the extremities and other side effects.

Morningstar analyst Damien Conover says tanezumab, if approved, could generate annual sales of $1 billion. But he says the earlier FDA safety concerns have dampened enthusiasm for the emerging new class of drugs.

Filed Under: Analgesics, Drug Updates Tagged With: Chronic pain, Opioids, osteoarthritis (OA), Pain, Pain Management, tanezumab

You Might Also Like:
  • Pfizer-Lilly Pain Drug Meets Late-Stage Trial Goals
  • Opioids No Better Than NSAIDs for Chronic Back or Arthritis Pain
  • Tanezumab for OA Pain
  • Nonopioid Medication May Be as Effective as Opioids for Chronic Pain

ACR Convergence

Don’t miss rheumatology’s premier scientific meeting for anyone involved in research or the delivery of rheumatologic care or services.

Visit the ACR Convergence site »

Meeting Abstracts

Browse and search abstracts from the ACR Convergence and ACR/ARP Annual Meetings going back to 2012.

Visit the Abstracts site »

Rheumatology Research Foundation

The Foundation is the largest private funding source for rheumatology research and training in the U.S.

Learn more »

The Rheumatologist newsmagazine reports on issues and trends in the management and treatment of rheumatic diseases. The Rheumatologist reaches 11,500 rheumatologists, internists, orthopedic surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who practice, research, or teach in the field of rheumatology.

About Us / Contact Us / Advertise / Privacy Policy / Terms of Use

  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed

Copyright © 2006–2021 American College of Rheumatology. All rights reserved.

ISSN 1931-3268 (print)
ISSN 1931-3209 (online)

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
This site uses cookies: Find out more.