Archimedes Pharma has officially launched its Lazanda fentanyl nasal spray for the treatment of breakthrough pain in adult cancer patients in the United States. Lazanda, the first fentanyl nasal spray available in the US, was approved by the FDA at the end of June 2011. In Europe, where the product is marketed as PecFent, the spray is available in a handful of countries, including the UK, France, and Germany.
Nash Gabrail, clinical investigator for Lazanda from the Gabrail Cancer Center, commented, “Even though the incidence of breakthrough pain is high in cancer patients, it is often not correctly identified nor reported. If reported, it is typically managed by either increasing the dose of background opioids or giving an additional dose of a short-acting oral opioid – neither of which is optimal therapy. Lazanda, with its rapid and controlled availability, can provide pain relief with an onset of action and duration of effect that addresses the time course of a typical breakthrough pain episode.”
Archimedes CEO Jeffrey H. Buchalter noted that the launch represents a major achievement for the company: “The availability of Lazanda also is an exciting milestone for Archimedes Pharma as it marks our first product launch in the US and represents the expansion of the brand from Europe.”
Read the Archimedes press release.
