Intellipharmaceutics Announces Resubmission of New Drug Application to the U.S. FDA for its Oxycodone ER

 In continuation of my update on Oxycodone ER

ntellipharmaceutics International Inc. (NASDAQ: IPCI, TSX: IPCI) ("Intellipharmaceutics" or the "Company"), a pharmaceutical company specializing in the research, development and manufacture of novel and generic controlled-release and targeted-release oral solid dosage drugs,  announced that it has resubmitted its New Drug Application ("NDA") to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") for its Oxycodone ER product candidate.

The Company's NDA for an abuse-deterrent version of Oxycodone ER was initially accepted for filing by the FDA in February 2017. Intellipharmaceutics resubmitted the NDA in response to a Complete Response Letter ("CRL") received from the FDA, which provided certain recommendations and requests for information. The FDA granted us an extension to February 28, 2019 to resubmit our NDA under section 505(b)(2) of the U.S. Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and the Company has now met this deadline.

There can be no assurance that Intellipharmaceutics will not be required to conduct further studies for Oxycodone ER, that the FDA will approve any of the Company's requested abuse-deterrent label claims or that the FDA will ultimately approve the NDA for the sale of Oxycodone ER in the U.S. market, or that it will ever be successfully commercialized.

About Intellipharmaceutics

Intellipharmaceutics International Inc. is a pharmaceutical company specializing in the research, development and manufacture of novel and generic controlled-release and targeted-release oral solid dosage drugs. The Company's patented Hypermatrix™ technology is a multidimensional controlled-release drug delivery platform that can be applied to a wide range of existing and new pharmaceuticals. Intellipharmaceutics has developed several drug delivery systems based on this technology platform, with a pipeline of products (some of which have received FDA approval) in various stages of development. The Company has ANDA and NDA 505(b)(2) drug product candidates in its development pipeline. These include the Company's abuse-deterrent oxycodone hydrochloride extended release formulation ("Oxycodone ER") based on its proprietary nPODDDS™ novel Point Of Divergence Drug Delivery System (for which an NDA has been filed with the FDA), and Regabatin™ XR (pregabalin extended-release capsules).

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements in this document constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and/or "forward-looking information" under the Securities Act (Ontario). These statements include, without limitation, statements expressed or implied regarding our expectations regarding our plans, goals and milestones, status of developments or expenditures relating to our business, plans to fund our current activities, and statements concerning our partnering activities, health regulatory submissions, strategy, future operations, future financial position, future sales, revenues and profitability, projected costs and market penetration and risks or uncertainties related to our ability to comply with the Nasdaq and TSX continued listing standards and our ability to develop and implement a plan of compliance with the Nasdaq continued listing standards acceptable to a Nasdaq Panel. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "appear", "unlikely", "target", "may", "will", "should", "expects", "plans", "plans to", "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "predicts", "confident", "prospects", "potential", "continue", "intends", "look forward", "could", "would", "projected", "goals", "set to", "seeking" or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. We made a number of assumptions in the preparation of our forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements, which are subject to a multitude of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, future circumstances or events to differ materially from those stated in or implied by the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties relating to us and our business can be found in the "Risk Factors" section of our latest annual information form, our latest Form 20-F, and our latest Form F-1 and Form F-3 (including any documents forming a part thereof or incorporated by reference therein), as amended, as well as in our reports, public disclosure documents and other filings with the securities commissions and other regulatory bodies in Canada and the U.S., which are available on www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov. The forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on what we believe are reasonable assumptions as of the date of this document and we disclaim any intention and have no obligation or responsibility, except as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

https://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB00497

Intellipharmaceutics Announces Resubmission of New Drug Application to the U.S. FDA for its Oxycodone ER

FDA Approves Lyrica CR (pregabalin) Extended-Release Tablets for Neuropathic Pain Conditions

In continuation of my update on Pregabalin

Pfizer Inc.  announced today that the  Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Lyrica CR (pregabalin) extended-release tablets CV as once-daily therapy for the management of neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (pDPN) and the management of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Lyrica CR did not receive approval for the management of fibromyalgia.

“Lyrica CR was developed to offer patients an effective treatment option with the convenience of once-daily dosing,” said James M. Rusnak, MD, PhD, Chief Development Officer, Internal Medicine, Pfizer Global Product Development. “It provides an important option for patients and health care providers managing these often debilitating pain conditions.”

The efficacy and safety of Lyrica CR in PHN  was established in a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted in a total of 801 patients with PHN who entered single-blind treatment with Lyrica CR. As both pDPN and PHN are peripheral neuropathic pain conditions, the PHN data was supportive of both the pDPN and PHN indications. The randomized trial included a six-week single-blind, dose optimization phase followed by a 13-week double-blind phase. In the PHN study, 73.6 percent of patients in the Lyrica CR group achieved at least 50 percent improvement in pain intensity compared with 54.6 percent in the placebo group.

The most common adverse reactions reported with Lyrica CR were dizziness, somnolence, headache, fatigue, peripheral edema, nausea, blurred vision, dry mouth and weight gain.

Please see the full prescribing information and Medication Guide for Lyrica CR (pregabalin) extended-release tablets 

Ref :  http://www.pfizer.com/products/product-detail/lyrica

FDA Approves Lyrica CR (pregabalin) Extended-Release Tablets for Neuropathic Pain Conditions

Maternal pregabalin exposure linked to major birth defect risk

 

In continuation of my update on Pregabalin 

First trimester exposure to pregabalin may be associated with an increased risk of major birth defects (MBDs), an observational study suggests.

The data from eight Teratology Information Services in seven countries on 164 exposed pregnancies showed that the risk of MBDs was increased a significant threefold compared with 656 unexposed pregnancies.

After limiting the findings to just first trimester exposure and excluding chromosomal aberration syndromes, the rate of major congenitalmal formations was 6.0% among 116 infants exposed to pregabalin as neonates versus 2.1% among 580 unexposed infants. These included four chromosomal and eight structural anomalies affecting the central nervous system (CNS), or the skeletal, cardiac, and skin or vascular systems.

"Our results raise a signal for a possible increase in the rate of MBD after pregabalin treatment during the first trimester of pregnancy", say researcher Ursula Winterfield (Centre Hospitalier Universitaire
Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland) and colleagues.

The rate of CNS malformations alone was also significantly higher following pregabalin exposure, increased sixfold, at 3.2% compared with  0.5%.

The researchers note that in all four cases of CNS malformations, the mother had been concurrently taking other substances during pregnancy  in addition to pregabalin and genetic causes have not been ruled out,  but they add: "[G]iven that pregabalin is a centrally acting agent, the possibility that these findings may signal a teratogenic effect in humans needs to be considered."

Other secondary outcomes included rates of live births, spontaneous abortions, preterm deliveries and delivery gestational age and birth weight. Of these, only the rate of live births was lower in the pregabalin-exposed group and this was primarily due to a higher rate of elective and medically indicated pregnancy terminations, suggestive of unplanned pregnancies.

Women were mainly taking pregabalin to treat neuropathic pain, but other indications included psychiatric disorders, epilepsy and restless leg syndrome.

The average daily dose of pregabalin was 150 mg; 77% of women started treatment before becoming pregnant and discontinued at a median  gestational age of 6 weeks. However, more than half of the patients continued treatment beyond this point and 33% beyond 7 weeks. First trimester pregabalin exposure occurred in 96% of patients.

Winterfield and colleagues acknowledge in Neurology that the small sample size and differences across groups in maternal conditions and exposure to concomitant medication mean definitive conclusions cannot be drawn from their findings.

But despite these limitations, Page Pennell (Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA) and Kimford Meador (Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA) say in a related editorial that "this study reflects the prescribing pattern for pregabalin".

They recommend: "Each woman receiving a prescription for a neuropsychiatric indication should receive counselling about the potential risk-benefit ratio for her individually, effective birth control until pregnancy is desired, and increased monitoring during pregnancy and for her child through early neurodevelopment."

Ref : http://www.neurology.org/content/early/2016/05/18/WNL.0000000000002780

FDA-approved drug pregabalin effectively treats RLS symptoms with less side effects

In continuation of my update on pregabalin

A report in the Feb. 13 New England Journal of Medicine confirms previous studies suggesting that long-term treatment with the type of drugs commonly prescribed to treat restless leg syndrome (RLS) can cause a serious worsening of the condition in some patients. The year-long study from a multi-institutional research team found that pregabalin - which is FDA-approved to treat nerve pain, seizures, and other conditions - was effective in reducing RLS symptoms and was much less likely to cause symptom worsening than pramipexole, one of several drugs that activate the dopamine neurotransmission system and are FDA approved for treatment of RLS.

"Our key finding is that dopaminergic drugs, while very effective for many people with RLS, can worsen symptoms in some patients over time, while non-dopaminergic pregabalin is not associated with this disturbing side effect," says John Winkelman, MD, PhD, of the Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Psychiatry, senior author of the study. "Those treating RLS patients with dopaminergic drugs need to be aware of this common complication and exercise caution if their symptoms worsen."

FDA-approved drug pregabalin effectively treats RLS symptoms with less side effects

Pregabalin for restless legs syndrome?

We know that Pregabalin (S)-3-(aminomethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid), is an anticonvulsant drug used for neuropathic pain and as an adjunct therapy for partial seizures with or without secondary generalization in adults. It has also been found effective for generalized anxiety disorder and is approved for this use in Europe) and the same compound has been reported as effective treatment of chronic pain in disorders such as fibromyalgia and spinal cord injury

But something new property of this product is being presented in the American Academy of Neurology's 61st Annual Meeting in Seattle (April 25 - May 2, 2009). i.e., the drug can be used as an effective treatment for restless legs syndrome (RLS) and also helps people with the disorder get a better night's sleep.

The 12 week study involved 58 people with RLS. Of the group, 30 people received the drug pregabalin and the rest received placebo. Sleep studies were performed at the beginning and end of the research. Researchers found nearly two-thirds of the people who took pregabalin had no RLS symptoms while taking the drug. For people who still had symptoms, those symptoms had improved by 66 percent while taking the drug, compared to the placebo group where symptoms worsened by 29 percent.

Sleep also improved for those taking pregabalin. The study showed the group spent more time in slow wave sleep, otherwise known as Stage 3 or deep sleep, and they spent less time in the lighter sleep stages known as Stage 1 or Stage 2 sleep compared to those taking placebo. Congrats Dr. Diego Garcia-Borreguero (Director of the Sleep Research Institute in Madrid, Spain) for this achievement. The significance of the research lies in the fact that “compared to all the drugs that are being used to treat RLS , Pregabalin is superior over the others in helping people to get more deep sleep- a main problem with RLS…