Tapentadol Data to Be Presented at 2010 American Pain Society Annual Meeting

RARITAN, N.J., May 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Data on tapentadol for the relief of acute and chronic pain, as well as patient and prescriber perceptions of oxycodone immediate-release treatments, will be presented at the 29th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Pain Society (APS) May 6-8, 2010.

Four of the 12 poster presentations will review analyses of tapentadol data, including a post-hoc analysis of a Phase 3 tolerability study on NUCYNTA® (tapentadol) tablets for acute pain in elderly patients (greater than or equal to 65 years of age), a population that may be more susceptible to opioid-related gastrointestinal side effects. Three of the presentations will review post-hoc analyses of data from a Phase 3, 1-year safety study on the investigational tapentadol extended release (ER) tablet formulation to evaluate tolerability and study discontinuations in various patient populations.

These data presentations, as follows, are supported by PriCara®, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., its research affiliates, Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C. (J&JPRD) and Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Scientific Affairs, L.L.C., as well as Grunenthal GmbH. 

NUCYNTA (tapentadol)

• Poster 264: Tolerability of Tapentadol Immediate Release (IR) versus Oxycodone IR in Elderly Patients with Low Back Pain or Osteoarthritis Pain of the Hip or Knee.
  • Friday, May 7, 2010; 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.; Gary Vorsanger, Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Scientific Affairs, L.L.C.

Tapentadol ER

• Poster 265: Tapentadol Extended Release (ER) Versus Oxycodone Controlled Release (CR) for Management of Chronic Low Back or Osteoarthritis Pain: Analyses of Study Discontinuations Due to Constipation, Nausea, or Vomiting in a 1-year Safety Study.
  • Thursday, May 6, 2010; 4:15 – 5:45 p.m.; David M. Biondi, Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Scientific Affairs, L.L.C.

• Poster 266: Safety and Tolerability of Tapentadol Extended Release (ER) versus Oxycodone Controlled Release (CR) in Elderly Patients with Chronic Low Back or Osteoarthritis Pain in a 1-Year Safety Study.
  • Friday, May 7, 2010; 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.; David M. Biondi, Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Scientific Affairs, L.L.C.

• Poster 267: Tapentadol Extended Release (ER) Versus Oxycodone Controlled Release (CR) for Management of Chronic Low Back or Osteoarthritis Pain: Influence of Prior Opioid Experience on Study Discontinuations Due to Constipation, Nausea, or Vomiting in a 1-Year Safety Study.
  • Thursday, May 6, 2010; 4:15 – 5:45 p.m.; David M. Biondi, Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Scientific Affairs, L.L.C.

Patient and Prescriber Perceptions

• Poster 279: A Nationally Representative Survey of Clinicians' Attitudes and Behaviors Regarding Long-term Use of Opioids.
  • Thursday, May 6, 2010; 4:15 – 5:45 p.m.; Hilary Wilson, University of Washington

• Poster 287: Physician Specialty and Variation in Identification and Management of Opioid Abuse: Data from the Oxycodone Users Registry (OUR).
  • Thursday, May 6, 2010; 4:15 – 5:45 p.m.; Carmela Benson, Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Scientific Affairs, L.L.C.

• Poster 286: Physician Specialty, Variation in Treatment of Pain and Perceptions Regarding Tolerability of Prescription Medications Containing Oxycodone Immediate-Release (OXYRX): Data from the Oxycodone Users Registry (OUR).
  • Friday, May 7, 2010; 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.; Carmela Benson, Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Scientific Affairs, L.L.C.

• Poster 241: The Management of Opioid-related Side Effects in Pain Management from the Patients' Perspective.
  • Thursday, May 6, 2010; 4:15 – 5:45 p.m.; Bill McCarberg, Kaiser Foundation Hospital, San Diego, CA.

• Poster 284: Demographic and Characteristics of Patients from the Oxycodone Users Registry (OUR): A  Prospective, Multicenter Registry of Patients with Non-Malignant Pain.
  • Friday, May 7, 2010; 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.; Carmela Benson, Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Scientific Affairs, L.L.C.

• Poster 293: Design of the Oxycodone Users Registry (OUR): A Prospective, Multicenter Registry of Patients with Non-Malignant Pain.
  • Thursday, May 6, 2010; 4:15 – 5:45 p.m.; Myoung Kim, Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Scientific Affairs, L.L.C.

• Poster 285: Work Productivity of Patients Participating in the Oxycodone Users Registry (OUR): A Prospective, Multicenter Registry of Patients with Non-Malignant Pain.
  • Thursday, May 6, 2010; 4:15 – 5:45 p.m.; Carmela Benson, Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Scientific Affairs, L.L.C.

• Poster 308:  A Meta-Analysis of Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Analgesic Treatment for Pain in the United States.
  • Friday, May 7, 2010; 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.; Salimah H. Meghani, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing

More than 25 million Americans experience acute pain each year as a result of injuries or surgery. One in four Americans, or 76 million people, live in chronic, debilitating pain, according to the National Pain Foundation. Pain often is undertreated, and acute pain may progress to chronic pain if not properly managed.

About tapentadol

NUCYNTA® (tapentadol) was approved by the FDA on November 20, 2008, and is available by prescription only for the relief of moderate to severe acute pain in patients 18 years of age or older. The tapentadol molecule is classified as Schedule II of the Controlled Substances Act.

Tapentadol ER is an investigational, centrally acting oral analgesic that binds to mu-opioid receptors and inhibits norepinephrine re-uptake. Although the exact mechanism of action is not known, these two mechanisms, which affect established pain pathways, are thought to be responsible for pain relief with tapentadol. The tapentadol ER tablet formulation is designed to provide a high degree of mechanical resistance, such as to crushing or chewing.

J&JPRD announced on December 1, 2009 that it submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for tapentadol extended release (ER) tablets for the management of moderate to severe chronic pain in patients 18 years of age or older. The NDA is currently under review. PriCara®, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. will market tapentadol extended release tablets in the United States when the product is approved by the FDA. The NDA filing is part of the ongoing commitment of J&JPRD and PriCara® to bring new and innovative products to patients and physicians for the treatment and management of pain.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR NUCYNTA® (tapentadol)

Like other drugs with mu-opioid agonist activity, NUCYNTA® is contraindicated in patients with significant respiratory depression, acute or severe bronchial asthma or hypercapnia in unmonitored settings or in the absence of resuscitative equipment.  NUCYNTA® is contraindicated in patients who have or are suspected to have paralytic ileus.  NUCYNTA® is also contraindicated in patients currently using or within 14 days of using monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) due to potential additive effects on norepinephrine levels, which may result in adverse cardiovascular events.

Respiratory depression is the primary risk of mu-opioid agonists. Respiratory depression occurs more frequently in elderly or debilitated patients and in those suffering from conditions accompanied by hypoxia, hypercapnia, or upper airway obstruction, in whom even moderate therapeutic doses may significantly decrease pulmonary ventilation.  NUCYNTA® should be administered with caution to the elderly, debilitated patients, and patients with conditions accompanied by hypoxia, hypercapnia or decreased respiratory reserve such as: asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or cor pulmonale, severe obesity, sleep apnea syndrome, myxedema, kyphoscoliosis, CNS depression, or coma.  In such patients, even usual therapeutic doses of NUCYNTA® may increase airway resistance and decrease respiratory drive to the point of apnea. Alternative non-mu-opioid agonist analgesics should be considered and NUCYNTA® should be employed only under careful medical supervision at the lowest effective dose in such patients. If respiratory depression occurs, it should be treated as any mu-opioid agonist-induced respiratory depression.  

Patients receiving other mu-opioid agonist analgesics, general anesthetics, phenothiazines, other tranquilizers, sedatives, hypnotics, or other CNS depressants (including alcohol) concomitantly with NUCYNTA® may exhibit additive CNS depression. Interactive effects resulting in respiratory depression, hypotension, profound sedation, coma or death may result if these drugs are taken in combination with NUCYNTA®. When such combined therapy is contemplated, a dose reduction of one or both agents should be considered.

Opioid analgesics can raise cerebrospinal fluid pressure as a result of respiratory depression with carbon dioxide retention.  Therefore, NUCYNTA® should not be used in patients susceptible to the effects of raised cerebrospinal fluid pressure such as those with head injury and increased intracranial pressure.  Opioid analgesics may obscure the clinical course of patients with head injury due to effects on pupillary response and consciousness.  NUCYNTA® should be used with caution in patients with head injury, intracranial lesions, or other sources of preexisting increased intracranial pressure.

NUCYNTA® is a mu-opioid agonist and is a Schedule II controlled substance.  Such drugs are sought by drug abusers and people with addiction disorders.  Diversion of Schedule II products is an act subject to criminal penalty.  NUCYNTA® can be abused in a manner similar to other mu-opioid agonists, legal or illicit. This should be considered when prescribing or dispensing NUCYNTA® in situations where the physician or pharmacist is concerned about an increased risk of misuse and abuse.  All patients treated with mu-opioid agonists require careful monitoring for signs of abuse and addiction.  NUCYNTA® may be abused by crushing, chewing, snorting or injecting the product.  These practices pose a significant risk to the abuser that could result in overdose and death.

Experience with NUCYNTA® overdose is very limited. Management of overdose should be focused on treating symptoms of mu-opioid agonism. Primary attention should be given to reestablishment of a patent airway and institution of assisted or controlled ventilation when overdose of NUCYNTA® is suspected. Supportive measures (including oxygen and vasopressors) should be employed in the management of circulatory shock and pulmonary edema accompanying overdose as indicated. Cardiac arrest or arrhythmias may require cardiac massage or defibrillation.

Patients should be cautioned that NUCYNTA® may impair the mental and/or physical abilities required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks such as driving a car or operating machinery.  This is to be expected especially at the beginning of treatment, at any change of dosage as well as in combination with alcohol or tranquilizers.

NUCYNTA® has not been systematically evaluated in patients with a seizure disorder, and such patients were excluded from clinical studies.  NUCYNTA® should be prescribed with care in patients with a history of a seizure disorder or any condition that would put the patient at risk of seizures.

The development of a potentially life-threatening serotonin syndrome may occur with use of SNRI products, including NUCYNTA®, particularly with concomitant use of serotonergic drugs such as SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, MAOIs and triptans, and with drugs which impair metabolism of serotonin (including MAOIs).  Serotonin syndrome may include mental-status changes (e.g., agitation, hallucinations, coma), autonomic instability (e.g., tachycardia, labile blood pressure, hyperthermia), neuromuscular aberrations (e.g., hyperreflexia, incoordination) and/or gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea).

Withdrawal symptoms may occur if NUCYNTA® is discontinued abruptly.  These symptoms may include: anxiety, sweating, insomnia, rigors, pain, nausea, tremors, diarrhea, upper respiratory symptoms, piloerection, and rarely, hallucinations. Withdrawal symptoms may be reduced by tapering NUCYNTA®.

Pregnancy Category C.  There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of NUCYNTA® in pregnant women.  NUCYNTA® should be used during pregnancy ONLY if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. NUCYNTA® is not recommended for use in women during and immediately prior to labor and delivery. Neonates whose mothers have been taking NUCYNTA^® should be monitored for respiratory depression. NUCYNTA® should not be used during breastfeeding.

NUCYNTA® is not recommended in patients with severe renal or hepatic impairment.  NUCYNTA® should be used with caution in patients with moderate hepatic impairment.  Like other drugs with mu-opioid agonist activity, NUCYNTA® may cause spasm of the sphincter of Oddi and should be used with caution in patients with biliary tract disease, including acute pancreatitis.

The most common adverse events are nausea, dizziness, vomiting, somnolence and headache.

To see the NUCYNTA^® full prescribing information, go to http://www.nucynta.com/nucynta/assets/Nucynta-PI.pdf.

PriCara®, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

PriCara®, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is a major health care company in the United States dedicated to the needs of primary care providers who serve a vital role on the frontline of medicine. For more information about the company, please visit www.PriCara.com.

Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C.

Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C., (J&JPRD) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, the world's most broadly based producer of health care products. J&JPRD is headquartered in Raritan, N.J., and has facilities throughout Europe, the United States and Asia. J&JPRD is leveraging drug discovery and drug development in a variety of therapeutic areas, including CNS, Internal Medicine and Oncology, to address unmet medical needs worldwide. More information can be found at www.jnjpharmarnd.com.  

Grunenthal

Grunenthal, a privately owned pharmaceutical company based in Aachen, Germany, discovered and started development of tapentadol. Grunenthal and J&JPRD have shared development responsibilities for tapentadol for acute and chronic pain conditions since the companies signed a licensing agreement for tapentadol in 2003. Grunenthal licensed marketing rights to tapentadol to Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for the United States, Canada and Japan. Grunenthal maintains marketing rights in Europe and other parts of the world.

(This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These statements are based on current expectations of future events.  If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and/or Johnson & Johnson's expectations and projections.  Risks and uncertainties include general industry conditions and competition; economic conditions, such as interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; technological advances and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approvals; domestic and foreign health care reforms and governmental laws and regulations; and trends toward health care cost containment.  A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Exhibit 99 of Johnson & Johnson's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2010.  Copies of this Form 10-K, as well as subsequent filings, are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson.  Neither Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. nor Johnson & Johnson undertake to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments).

SOURCE PriCara