Scilex Pharmaceuticals Study Suggests Underutilization Of Recommended First-Line Lidocaine Patches And Opioid Overuse For Treatment Of Pain Associated With Post-Herpetic Neuralgia

MALVERN, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SCILEX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. reported data at the American Pain Society 2016 Annual Scientific Meeting on patterns of initial analgesic use in patients treated for post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). The study suggests that clinicians, who have been prescribing opioids as first-line therapy for about one-third of PHN patients, should reconsider their current PHN treatment strategies. These data suggest that treatments such as lidocaine patches, which are recommended as first-line therapy for PHN, may be currently underutilized.

“Healthcare Utilization in Patients with Postherpetic Neuralgia”

The study, titled “Healthcare Utilization in Patients with Postherpetic Neuralgia,” examined medical and pharmacy claims from 2010–2014 in Truven Health Analytics MarketScan Commercial and Medicare Supplemental databases to compare healthcare utilization in adults with PHN. Patients met PHN diagnosis criteria reported by Klompas (Mayo Clinic Proc. 2011). Across two populations of PHN patients (<65 years and =65 years), approximately 36 percent received an opioid, 21 percent received gabapentin, 4 percent lidocaine patch, 4 percent pregabalin, 4 percent a tricyclic antidepressant, 1 percent other topical lidocaine and <1 percent capsaicin. Results show higher opioid-based therapy across all ages and substantial under-treatment with topical lidocaine and adjunctive neuropathic agents.

“These data suggest a need to consider recommended first-line therapies, including lidocaine patches, for the relief of pain associated with PHN,” said Jeffrey A. Gudin, M.D., co-author of the study. “In light of current concerns regarding the overprescribing of opioid-based medications, lidocaine patches could serve as a useful component for appropriate patients in their PHN treatment regimen.”

A link to the abstract can be found here: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2016.01.381.

About SCILEX Pharmaceuticals

SCILEX Pharmaceuticals, Inc., located in Malvern, PA, responsibly develops and brings branded pharmaceutical products to market using groundbreaking technologies that maximize quality of life for all. SCILEX is uncompromising in its focus to become the global pharmaceutical leader in pain management. The Company is committed to social, environmental, economic, and ethical responsibility. Dedicated to using internal partnerships, SCILEX strives to deliver the next generation of trailblazing products that are responsible by design. The Company’s lead product under development, ZTlido™ (lidocaine patch 1.8%), is a branded lidocaine patch formulation for the potential treatment of relieving the pain of postherpetic neuralgia, also referred to as after-shingles pain. For more information visit www.scilexpharma.com.

ZTlido is a trademark owned by SCILEX Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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