Dear Readers: With our 12th edition of "A Primer of Drug Action" released in October 2010, pharmacology continues to progress. In the text I discussed Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) for opioid dependence. I also discussed naltrexone implanted pellets. Now under development is an implantable formulation of buprenorphine (Probuphine) in a polymer matrix sustained 6-month formulation (reference: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, July 2009, volume 103, pp. 37-43). Titan Pharmaceuticals (distributor of Fanapt) is developing this product in the U.S. and currently has it in clinical trial. I refer you to their website: www.titanpharm.com. This may offer yet another option for the pharmacological treatment of opioid dependence. I appreciate the effort, but since buprenorphine is still an agonist opioid (a partial agonist), I hope that development of a naltrexone (antagonist) implant of similar design will be pursued commercially.
Robert Julien, MD PhD
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