Salix and Progenics receive FDA approval for Relistor injection for opioid-induced constipation

1 October 2014

Gastrointestinal specialist Salix Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: SLXP) and Progenics Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: PGNX) have had their Relistor (methylnaltrexone bromide) subcutaneous injection approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Relistor has been approved to treat opioid-induced constipation in patients taking opioids for chronic non-cancer pain. It is currently the only available peripherally acting mu opioid receptor antagonist approved for treating this indication at the cause, without interfering with the centrally-acting analgesic properties of the opioid.

Traditional laxative treatments are often ineffective for many chronic pain patients suffering with opioid-induced constipation, and around 80% of chronic pain patients with the condition that were taking laxative therapy continued to report difficulties dealing with their constipation symptoms, as shown in a large patients survey published in 2008 in Pain Medicine.

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