Zogenix, the maker of the opioid painkiller Zohydro ER recently submitted an application to the Food and Drug Administration for a new version that the company says will be less susceptible to abuse.
The new formulation “contains additional inactive ingredients that are intended to make the product more difficult to abuse by injection.”
The FDA approved Zohydro last fall, over strong objections of its advisory committed, which was concerned about the potential for abuse of the drug.
Pain specialists have said that the medicine is needed because it lasts longer than other opioids which makes it more effective for long-lasting pain such as that from advanced cancer. wsjhealth 10/1/14