J&J's tapentadol may significantly reduce pain intensity for diabetics with peripheral neuropathy

New research has been published indicating that patients suffering from a painful complication of diabetes may experience a significant improvement in their pain as measured by a pain intensity scale when using an investigational pain medication.

This Phase III study, which evaluates the safety and efficacy of US drugs major Johnson & Johnson’s (NYSE: JNJ) tapentadol extended release against placebo for relieving moderate to severe chronic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), is published in the January issue of the journal Current Medical Research and Opinion (CMRO). An online version of the article may be found here.

Just this past week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced there are now nearly 26 million people in the USA living with diabetes. Over time, they can develop a type of nerve damage called neuropathy. Around 60% to 70% of people with diabetes have some form of neuropathy. The most common type is DPN, which causes pain or loss of feeling in the toes, feet, legs, hands, and arms. It is estimated that painful DPN affects 10% to 20% of all patients with diabetes, and many patients on current treatments still experience considerable pain.