oxymorphone trials begin, page-21

In today's announcement Dr Ogru is quoted as saying

We believe oxymorphone would be a suitable companion product to oxycodone in any transdermal pain management portfolio. Together, these products would be appropriate for tackling all levels of chronic pain indications from opioid naïve to opioid experienced patients.


What is Phosphagenics’ targeted market? How much is it worth? Which products and which pharmas will be threatened by POH’s “pain management portfolio”?

Obviously, both the oral extended release oxycodone and oxymorphone markets are being targeted. As explained in the release, these two markets combined are worth in excess of $3.5 billion.

Oxycodone ER (OxyContin) is manufactured by Purdue and oxymorphone ER (Opana) by Endo Pharmaceuticals. Both drugs come off patent this year.

Logically, currently available transdermal opiod patches are also threatened. In the United States, two opiod patches are currently approved for sale.

Longest established in the market is the fentanyl patch (Duragesic), manufactured by Janssen (J&J). It is also available in generic forms. The fentanyl patch is recommended only for opioid tolerant patients.

More recently approved is the buprenorphine patch (Butrans), which is manufactured by Purdue. It is considered best suited to opiod naïve patients.

According to POH’S December release, the current transdermal opioid market is worth over $1 billion.

Thus, taking into consideration both oral oxycodone and oxymorphone ER drugs as well as transdermally delivered opioids, the value of the total market targeted by POH’s oxycodone and oxymorphone patches is in excess of $4.5 billion.

The pharmas threatened by POH's pain portfolio are principally Purdue (with 2 products), Endo and J&J.

Nevertheless, as likely acquirer of the portfolio, my money is still on Pfizer. For a pharma that aims to be global “pain king”, Pfizer’s current opioid pain portfolio, based on morphine products only, is exceedingly weak and its opioid pipeline appears far from secure. Firstly, the future of Pfizer’s Remoxy (an ER oral oxycodone product in late-stage development) is under a cloud and even if Remoxy proceeds and is approved, Pfizer stands to pay up to 31.5% of net sales in licensing fees. Another abuse-deterrent IR oxycodone product which Pfizer had in development has been cancelled and a third ER oxycodone/naltrexone product has demonstrated high rates of both participant discontinuation and adverse events during Phase III trials.

POH’s abuse-deterrent patch portfolio, which would allow Pfizer access to a $4.5 billion pain market without cannibalizing its existing products, must be looking very attractive indeed.