CANTON, Mass., Jan. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development of innovative treatments for chronic pain, today announced the relocation of its corporate offices and laboratory facilities to Canton, Massachusetts from Cumberland, Rhode Island.
The Company’s lead development program is Oxycodone DETERx® (COL-003), a tamper-resistant, extended-release oxycodone product utilizing its proprietary DETERx® technology. The Oxycodone DETERx® formulation was specifically designed to provide and preserve extended release of the active ingredient following the most common methods of product tampering employed by drug abusers (e.g., crushing, chewing, heating for IV injection, etc.). The product is currently in the final stage of clinical development and has been designated Fast Track Status by the FDA due to its potential to address the problem of prescription drug abuse, a major public health issue in the U.S.
Extended-release formulations of opioids (e.g., OxyContin®) are known to be attractive targets for non-medical use since they contain large doses of drug. Crushing these dosage forms can defeat the extended-release properties and result in immediate availability of the opioid, also known as “dose dumping.” Crushed formulations are commonly self-administered by abusers orally, intranasally or by IV injection, resulting in a “high.” Although marketed formulations carry labels warning against crushing and breaking, there are reports of legitimate pain patients crushing tablets to facilitate swallowing, a practice that significantly increases their risk of serious adverse events.
“We are pleased to have completed our relocation to Massachusetts. The new analytical and development labs will facilitate the completion of the development of this important product,” said Michael Heffernan, CEO of Collegium. “It is becoming increasingly recognized that tamper-resistant, extended-release opioids play an important role in the fight against prescription pain medication abuse. Oxycodone DETERx® may offer a number of significant clinical advantages over currently marketed tamper-resistant opioids for the treatment of chronic pain.”
About DETERx® Technology
The DETERx® drug delivery platform consists of a multi-particulate matrix formulation in a capsule. While developed primarily to provide tamper-resistant properties to protect against common methods of tampering such as chewing, crushing, insufflation and extraction for IV injection, the multi-particulate design is expected to enable patients with difficulty swallowing to open the capsule and administer the contents on food or via a gastronomy tube, while maintaining the extended-release properties of the product. DETERx® technology can be used with drugs that are commonly abused such as opioids and amphetamines, as well as drugs that have narrow therapeutic windows that would benefit from protection against misuse such as breaking, crushing, grinding or dissolving the product. The formulation platform is covered by U.S. and international patents and patent applications. Oxycodone DETERx® (COL-003) is the first of a number of product candidates using the DETERx® platform.
About Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc.
Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing a portfolio of products that incorporate its patent-protected DETERx® formulation platform for the treatment of chronic pain. The DETERx® oral drug delivery technology provides extended-release delivery, unique tamper-resistant properties, and flexible dose administration options. For more information, visit the Company’s website at www.collegiumpharma.com.
Contact:
Michael Heffernan, President
Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc.
781-713-3722
mheffernan@collegiumpharma.com
SOURCE Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc.
