Vernalis and Tris' Tuzistra XR launches in USA with extended relief formulation

UK pharma company Vernalis (LSE: VER) and specialty pharma company Tris Pharma have launched Tuzistra XR (codeine polistirex and chlorpheniramine polistirex) in the USA.

The extended release oral suspension is now available to patients and physicians in the USA, and was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in April 2015. It is indicated to relief cough and symptoms associated with upper respiratory allergies or common cold in adults.

Tuzistra is the only codeine-based extended relief cough cold syrup available to patients and physicians in the USA, where the cough cold prescription market is worth more than $3 billion, but is dominated by short-acting treatments. These require dosing 4-6 times per day, while Tuzistra uses a liquid sustained release technology allowing for extended delivery over 12 hours.