Fentora is indicated only for the management of breakthrough pain in patients with cancer who are already receiving and who are tolerant to opioid therapy for their underlying persistent cancer pain.
The US biopharmaceutical company said that the deaths from respiratory depression occurred as a result of prescribing the drug to opioid non-tolerant patients, improper dosing, and/or improper product substitution. Cephalon has written to healthcare professionals highlighting the issues and has alerted the FDA.
Fentora contains fentanyl, an opioid agonist, which has a high potential for abuse and overdose.