In thick of addiction crisis, FDA announces more support for generic ADF opioids

US FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb has announced new measures to promote the development of generic abuse-deterrent formulation (ADF) opioids.

Citing “the staggering human and economic toll created by opioid abuse and addiction,” Dr Gottlieb said it was important to “develop opioids that are harder to manipulate and abuse, and take steps to encourage their use over opioids that don’t offer any form of abuse deterrence.”

It has been estimated that the US opioid crisis, which contributed to an estimated 59,000 deaths from overdose last year, carries an annual social cost, per user, of about $51,000.