Israel-based Teva Pharmaceutical Industries earned approval from the Food and Drug Administration for its abuse-deterrent painkiller Vantrelatmer.
Vantrelatmer is a long-term opioid treatment for severe pain. The drug is intended for use only when alternative treatment options fail to control pain.
The drug contains abuse-deterrent properties against the three most common routes of abuse: oral, intranasal and intravenous.
"Teva understands the risk of prescription drug abuse is a challenge healthcare professionals face when treating millions of Americans affected by chronic pain," said Rob Koremans, MD, president and CEO of global specialty medicines at Teva. "Abuse-deterrent treatments provide options for prescribers that may help deter or mitigate abuse while still preserving access to pain medications for the patients that need them most."