Pharmacology
IND Approved for an Abuse-Resistant Oxycodone Product.
By Elite Pharmaceuticals
May 27, 2005, 17:28

Elite Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Elite" or the "Company") announced that the FDA has approved the Company's investigational new drug ("IND") application for its abuse-resistant oxycodone product.

This product utilizes Elite's proprietary abuse-resistant technology ("ART(TM)"), incorporating an opioid antagonist designed to discourage and reduce abuse of narcotic analgesic medications by making the product more difficult to abuse when crushed, damaged or otherwise manipulated.

Elite is committed to developing narcotic analgesic products with reduced potential of abuse. Its abuse resistance technology incorporates an opioid antagonist with an agonist on the same formulation in such a way that when administered as an intact product, only the agonist will be absorbed in a sustained manner with little or no absorption of the antagonist. However, when the product is physically damaged with the intent of abuse to seek a euphoric effect, the antagonist is released and absorbed thereby antagonizing the effect of the agonist. This technology is based on a pharmacological intervention of the euphoric effects by a narcotic antagonist.

Under the IND, the Company will conduct pharmacokinetic clinical studies using its ART(TM) formulation containing both the agonist and the antagonist in healthy human subjects. The study will evaluate the extent of naltrexone and oxycodone absorption from extended release oxycodone HCl and 25 mg naltrexone HCl capsules administered unaltered versus crushed.

Elite's ART(TM) can be applied not only to the $2 billion addressable market of oxycodone, but also to many other opioids, thereby potentially addressing a greater overall market. The technology is protected by a patent pending.

Bernard Berk, Chairman and CEO commented, "This is a significant technical achievement for Elite's development program in the area of pain management and a major step forward for Elite to establish itself as a leader in the prevention of opioid abuse. As previously reported in January 2005, Elite's initial studies in humans showed results that strongly supported the premise of the ART(TM) including demonstrating little or no release of the antagonist in the intact dosage form. Based upon our investigations to date, similar results are not found in any literature reports. We are addressing a large unmet medical need to provide better, safer and, most of all, more abuse- resistant pain products making a difference in the lives of people who are legitimately seeking pain relief."

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