This invention is a novel use of “atypical” antipsychotic drugs in combination with opioids to reduce the abuse potential of the opioid pain medication. The abuse potential is reduced by inhibiting the stimulation of the reward center in the brain.
Background:
The global pain market is estimated to reach $21.6 billion USD in 2022 and an estimated 207 million opioids prescriptions were written for pain in 2013. The U.S. sells over 80% of the opioid drugs worldwide with an estimated market value of $8 billion USD.
With the rise of the opioid market, the U.S. had 1.9 million Americans in 2014 abusing prescription pain medications. As prescription costs rise, patients are turning to heroin, with an estimated 1 in 15 people who take prescription pain relievers trying heroin in 10 years. The abuse of opioids, both prescribed and illicit, has reached epidemic proportions.
The invention addresses the addictive potential of opioids by combining them with “atypical” antipsychotics drugs. The antipsychotic medication dampens the reward center stimulation caused by the opioid pain medications without affecting the analgesic efficacy.
Initial testing has been promising and the inventors are continuing testing to verify that the opioid/atypical antipsychotic combination does the following:
• Successfully reduces the abuse potential of the opioid
• Does not affect the analgesic efficacy
• Does not increase other negative side effects of the opioid drug
Commercial Applications & Advantages:
The new technology is a broadly applicable analgesic with the following advantages over currently available pain medications:
• Allows use of highly effective opioids while reducing potential for dependency
• Utilizes existing, FDA approved drugs
• Will require a shorter approval process, thus reducing the time to market