Positive trial for Altea pain relief patch

This first phase II clinical study for the daily hydromorphone patch comprised a three day randomized dose-response study in opioid naive patients with acute pain following knee or hip replacement surgery.

Fourteen patients wore a new patch every day for up to three successive days. Results demonstrated the minimum dose required to treat post-operative pain in these patients. Patients exhibited steady-state serum hydromorphone levels within four hours, with these levels remaining constant for the three days of the study with no apparent drug accumulation.

“Transdermal hydromorphone offers a promising new way to treat moderate to severe pain,” said Dr Timothy Melson, lead investigator for the trial, and chief of anesthesiology, Helen Keller Hospital, Alabama. “The ability to achieve steady serum levels of an opioid combined with convenient once-a-day dosing has the potential to become an attractive option for patients suffering from pain.”