We noticed that Grünenthal, a German pharmaceutical company, has submitted a Marketing Authorisation Application for tapentadol tablets to several European authorities. Grünenthal is seeking an indication for the treatment of severe acute and severe chronic pain requiring centrally acting analgesics therapy in adults. If approved Tapentadol will be the first of a new generation of centrally-acting analgesics. In the United States, the IR formulation of tapentadol has already been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the relief of moderate to severe acute pain in adult patients.
“Many patients suffer from pain because available treatment options do not provide sufficient pain relief, or have other limitations such as gastro-intestinal side effects that may trigger patients to discontinue treatment”, says Wolfgang Becker, Corporate Executive Board Member. “We are convinced that tapentadol has the potential to contribute to overcoming these unmet medical needs and help to improve pain management.”
Consultant Interventional Spine and Pain Physician Nigel Kellow says:
This is potentially exciting. We have always had particular difficulties with the side effects of strong analgesics. The most common side effects with morphine and other opioids are nausea, vomiting, constipation, and drowsiness. Any drug that can offer similar quality pain relief with fewer side effects will be welcomed by all doctors who look after patients in pain.
