buprenorphine transdermal / Generic mfg. - LARVOL DELTA

Severe Hyperphosphatemia in a Kidney Transplant Patient (KIDNEY WEEK 2025) - "Doppler ultrasound of the transplant kidney showed increased echogenicity, and elevated restive indices, no hydronephrosis...Treatment of severe hyperphosphatemia requires saline infusion, phosphate binders and hemodialysis if symptomatic. This case show the importance of close follow-up in post-transplant patients with hypophosphatemia who are taking phosphorus supplements"

Clinical • Antibody-mediated Rejection • Cardiovascular • Glomerulonephritis • Hypertension • IgA Nephropathy • Metabolic Disorders • Nephrology • Renal Disease • Transplantation

Examining Social Determinates of Health in Adult Sickle Cell Disease Patients (ASH 2024) - "Future studies should track outpatient follow-up and readmission rates over time of this patient population. Additional goals will incorporate increased screening for depression, anxiety, stress of somatic complaints to improve referrals for care as well as increased use of buprenorphine transdermal patches over excessive oral opioid use with increased risk of mortality.This project was funded by the HRSA PCTE-RTMB grant."

Clinical • Anemia • Cardiovascular • CNS Disorders • Depression • Genetic Disorders • Hematological Disorders • Mood Disorders • Psychiatry • Sickle Cell Disease

A Randomized, Open, Two-Sequence, Two-Period, Crossover Design Bioequivalence Trial of Buprenorphine Transdermal Patch in Healthy Subjects (ChiCTR) - P=N/A | N=50 | Not yet recruiting | Sponsor: Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University; Yangtze River Pharmaceutical Group Zilong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

New trial • Pain

Urine Drug Test Results from Patients with Chronic Pain Receiving Partial Agonist Versus Full Agonist Opioid Therapy (PAINWeek 2025) - "Purpose/Objectives : The purpose of this study was to first characterize patients managed by a pain clinic that were prescribed (1) buprenorphine buccal film (BBF), (2) buprenorphine transdermal patch (BTP), or (3) FAO therapy (including hydrocodone, hydromorphone, morphine, oxycodone, and oxymorphone) and second, evaluate the presence of illicit drugs (heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine) in their urine drug tests (UDT). A total of 144,399 specimens from 35,941 unique patients and 1,022 unique providers were evaluated. BBF group had 3,675 unique patients and 9,363 specimens (average 2.55 (SD 2.83) specimens per patient); BTP group had 5,299 unique patients and 12,235 specimens (average 2.31 (SD 2.42) specimens per patient); FAO group had 26,607 unique patients and 115,606 specimens (average 4.34 (SD 4.07) specimens per patient). Females represented a majority in all study groups, though BBF (62.2%) and BTP (64.3%) patients were more likely to be female..."

Clinical • Addiction (Opioid and Alcohol) • CNS Disorders • Depression • Pain • Psychiatry • Substance Abuse

Route of Administration and Other Clinical Outcomes Among Exposures to Buprenorphine Pain Medications and Schedule II Opioids (PAINWeek 2025) - "Four study groups were studied: buprenorphine buccal film (BBF), buprenorphine transdermal patch (BTP), CII immediate-release (CII-IR) opioids, and CII extended-release (CII-ER) opioids. CII opioid compounds included solid oral dosage forms of hydrocodone, oxycodone, hydromorphone, oxymorphone, and tapentadol... From 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2023, there were 276 exposures to BBF (9 resulted in a major effect or death); 134 exposures to BTP (13 resulted in a major effect or death); 43,322 exposures to CII-IR opioids (5,519 resulted in a major effect or death); and 2,453 exposures to CII-ER opioids (435 resulted in a major effect or death) reported to NPDS. The risk of exposure resulting in major effect or death was greatest for CII-ER opioids (0.18), followed by CII-IR opioids (0.13), BTP (0.10) and lowest for BBF (0.03). Exposure resulting in major effect or death was 3.91 times (95% CI: 2.05,7.43) greater for CII-IR opioids, 5.44 times (95% CI: 2.84,10.40) greater..."

Clinical • Clinical data • Addiction (Opioid and Alcohol) • CNS Disorders • Pain

Clinical Outcomes Translated to Healthcare Costs: Comparison of Buprenorphine Pain Medications with Full-agonist Extended-Release Opioids (PAINWeek 2025) - "Buprenorphine has potentially fewer negative side effects and adverse events than other opioids used for chronic pain treatment (Adler et al., 2024), such as full-agonist opioids fentanyl, hydromorphone, morphine and oxycodone (Dalal et al., 2021)... This was an observational, cross-sectional study design with three groups: buprenorphine buccal film (BBF), buprenorphine transdermal patch (BTP) and full-agonist extended-release opioids (FA-ER; included ER oxycodone, ER hydromorphone, ER oxymorphone, and ER tapentadol)... From 01 January 2020 to 31 December 2023, there were 276 reported exposures to BBF; 134 reported exposures to BTP; and 2,453 reported exposures to FA-CII opioids. Of these, intentional abuse or misuse exposures involving BBF and BTP were similar to one another and lower than rates of FA-ER exposures: BBF intentional abuse/misuse exposures n= 41 (14.9%); BTP exposures n=19 (14.2%); and FA-ER opioid exposures n= 665 (27.1%). Percentages of admissions to a..."

Clinical • Clinical data • HEOR • Addiction (Opioid and Alcohol) • CNS Disorders • Pain • Substance Abuse

Treatment Characteristics of Chronic Low Back Pain Patients Transitioned from Oral Schedule II Short-Acting Opioids to Belbuca or Oral Schedule II Long-Acting Opioids: A Retrospective US Commercial Claims Analysis (PAINWeek 2025) - "Previously published analyses among commercial and Medicare patients with cLBP in the US focused on the comparison between Belbuca ® and the buprenorphine transdermal patch...Average daily doses were 598.1 mcg for Belbuca ® and 47.4 morphine milligram equivalents (MME) for LAO opioids...Regarding NORMs, the only observed difference was in mean duloxetine prescription counts (1.3 prescriptions in Belbuca ® vs. 1.0 prescription in LAO, p=0.042)... There were 3,350 patients identified in the database (1,331 Belbuca ® and 2,019 oral Schedule II LAO opioids). PSM yielded 964 patients in each cohort in the final study sample. During the 12-month follow-up, mean treatment durations were 156.0 days with Belbuca ® and 164.2 days with LAO opioids (p=0.180)."

Retrospective data • Addiction (Opioid and Alcohol) • Back Pain • CNS Disorders • Lumbar Back Pain • Musculoskeletal Pain • Pain

Reduction of 1,000,000 Monthly MME's to Zero Utilizing Buprenorphine and BHC Centered Care for Chronic Pain Patients in Federally Qualified Health Center: A One Year Project (PAINWeek 2025) - "Utilizing microdose formulations of buprenorphine ( Belbuca and Butrans) along with slow and thoughtful opioid taper patients can safely transition using crossover method of transition. Practice MMEs were significantly reduced month-to-month from 1 million pract ice MMEs in January 2024, to 252,000 by April 2024, 55 ,000 by J uly 2024, and ZERO by December 2024 . Some patients sought care elsewhere (about 35 %) ; many of those have returned as they have found difficulty in finding providers for full opioids . Some patients (10 -15 %) weaned off of opioids completely, including buprenorphine and are doing well on nonopioid care, often utilizing acupuncture, chiropractic, pain skills group, one-on-one counseling, and lifestyle changes (weight loss, paced exercise) ."

Clinical • Addiction (Opioid and Alcohol) • Alzheimer's Disease • CNS Disorders • Cognitive Disorders • Depression • Pain • Psychiatry • Substance Abuse

Temperature-dependent resistive switching statistics and mechanisms in nanoscale graphene-SiO2-graphene memristors. (PubMed, Nanoscale) - "As a unipolar memristor, the average set voltage (switching from a high resistive state to a low resistive state) rises with a temperature drop, while the average reset voltage (switching from a low restive state to a high state) drops slightly with the temperature drop...Statistical results suggest that the set process involves the formation of Si conducting filaments promoted by the diffusion of oxygen ions from oxygen vacancies, while the reset process involves Joule heat-driven conductive filament rupture and silicon-oxygen recombination, requiring intensified heating at higher environmental temperatures to counteract extended oxygen ion migration. Beyond general resistive switching mechanisms involving only the formation and rupture of Si conductive filaments, our insights provide a novel understanding of the stochastic mechanisms of the switching process at the atomic level, with significant implications for future neuromorphic computing applications."

Journal

NCCN has published updates to the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Adult Cancer Pain, Version 1.2025. (NCCN)

NCCN guideline • Oncology • Pain

Kratom Use Disorder Management Using Clonidine and/or Buprenorphine (clinicaltrials.gov) - P=N/A | N=50 | Recruiting | Sponsor: Salem Anaesthesia Pain Clinic | Trial completion date: Dec 2024 ➔ Dec 2025 | Trial primary completion date: Dec 2024 ➔ Dec 2025

Trial completion date • Trial primary completion date

An Exploratory Clinical Study of a Low-dose Buprenorphine Patch for the Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders (clinicaltrials.gov) - P=N/A | N=60 | Not yet recruiting | Sponsor: Peking University Sixth Hospital

New trial • Autism Spectrum Disorder • Genetic Disorders

CORR Insights®: Is the Use of a Buprenorphine Transdermal Patch More Effective Than Oral Medications for Postoperative Analgesia After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair? A Randomized Clinical Trial. (PubMed, Clin Orthop Relat Res) - No abstract available

Clinical • Journal • Orthopedics

Comparative Efficacy of Buprenorphine Transdermal Patch Versus Tramadol in Postoperative Analgesia for Shoulder Arthroscopy (clinicaltrials.gov) - P4 | N=70 | Active, not recruiting | Sponsor: medina medical center

New P4 trial • Musculoskeletal Pain • Orthopedics • Pain

Impact of transdermal buprenorphine patch combined with celecoxib on improving shoulder pain and function of patients with primary adhesive shoulder capsulitis. (PubMed, BMC Musculoskelet Disord) - "The combination of buprenorphine transdermal patch with celecoxib capsule may result in good analgesic efficacy and functional improvement in patients with primary ASC."

Journal • Observational data • Retrospective data • Musculoskeletal Pain • Pain

24-Hour Induction of Transdermal Buprenorphine to Buprenorphine Extended-Release. (PubMed, J Psychoactive Drugs) - "Here, we present two inpatients with active unregulated fentanyl use that were successfully initiated on buprenorphine extended-release with a novel 24-h transdermal buprenorphine protocol without precipitating withdrawal. This protocol may represent a substantial improvement in the practical feasibility of initiating buprenorphine for patients and providers, although further study is required to confirm efficacy and tolerability."

Journal • Substance Abuse

Bioequivalence and adhesion tests of Buprenorphine Transdermal Patches in humans (ChiCTR) - P4 | N=40 | Not yet recruiting | Sponsor: Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University; Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University

New P4 trial • Pain

Is the Use of a Buprenorphine Transdermal Patch More Effective Than Oral Medications for Postoperative Analgesia After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair? A Randomized Clinical Trial. (PubMed, Clin Orthop Relat Res) - "In this randomized trial, we found no clinically important advantages in pain or function to the use of buprenorphine patches after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, and insufficient evidence exists to confirm whether the minor differences in transient side effects could justify the use of a new and largely untested analgesic approach in this context. That being so, we recommend against the routine use of buprenorphine patches for this indication. In general, we found that pain levels were low after the procedure in both groups. Future studies, therefore, should focus on the efficacy of buprenorphine patches for more invasive or more painful procedures."

Clinical • Journal • Addiction (Opioid and Alcohol) • Allergy • Anesthesia • Genetic Disorders • Immunology • Nephrology • Obesity • Orthopedics • Pain • Renal Disease

Buprenorphine Transdermal Delivery System: Bioequivalence Assessment and Adhesion Performance of Two Patch Formulations. (PubMed, Pharmaceutics) - "The buprenorphine transdermal patch provides a non-invasive method of rate-controlled drug release, ensuring constant and predictable drug plasma levels over an extended period...Adhesion comparison showed the non-inferiority of the test formulation. Based on ANVISA's regulatory requirements, the test and reference formulations were considered bioequivalent and could be interchangeable in clinical practice."

Journal • Pain

Safety and efficacy of long-term use of a buprenorphine transdermal patch system in patients with osteoarthritis and low back pain refractory to non-opioid analgesics: Post-marketing surveillance of 3000 cases. (PubMed, Pain Pract) - "This study demonstrated the safety and efficacy of long-term administration of buprenorphine transdermal patches, suggesting that pain control is possible over the long term if attention is paid to ADRs in the early stages of administration."

Journal • P4 data • Back Pain • CNS Disorders • Constipation • Depression • Gastroenterology • Gastrointestinal Disorder • Immunology • Lumbar Back Pain • Musculoskeletal Pain • Osteoarthritis • Pain • Psychiatry • Rheumatology

Treatment Characteristics and Dosing Patterns in Chronic Low Back Pain Patients Treated with Belbuca® and Buprenorphine Transdermal Patches: A Retrospective US Medicare Claims Analysis (PAINWeek 2024) - "After Belbuca® initiation, opioid treatment duration shortened (103 vs. 77 days, p=0.012) and the average morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) improved (42.8 vs. 30.4 MMEs, p=0.048). After applying selection criteria, the sample of 3,368 Medicare patients prescribed Belbuca® or buprenorphine patch was narrowed down to 322 in the non-matched sample. PSM analysis yielded 97 patients in the final matched sample (36 in Belbuca® and 61 in buprenorphine patch).As a result of PSM analysis, patient characteristics were well-balanced across the cohorts. cLBP patients treated with buprenorphine were predominantly women ( > 60%) aged ~71 years."

Medicare • Reimbursement • Retrospective data • US reimbursement • Addiction (Opioid and Alcohol) • Back Pain • CNS Disorders • Lumbar Back Pain • Musculoskeletal Pain • Pain • Substance Abuse

Safety and Tolerability of Schedule III Buprenorphine and Oral Schedule II Opioid Treatment in Chronic Low Back Pain Patients: A Retrospective US Medicare Claims Analysis (PAINWeek 2024) - "Non-matched sample consisted of 26,995 patients, with 1,020 patients in CIII buprenorphine cohort (203 in Belbuca® and 817 buprenorphine transdermal patch) and 25,975 patients in CII opioid cohort. After PSM analysis, 1,496 patients were matched in the primary analysis (545 patients in CIII buprenorphine and 951 in CII opioid cohort). Sub-analyses yielded 124 Belbuca® patients matched to 297 CII opioid patients, and 62 Belbuca® patients matched to 62 buprenorphine transdermal patch patients.Compared to CII opioid cohort, CIII buprenorphine treatment was associated with significantly lower rate of confusion (IRR 0.07, p< 0.001), syncope (IRR 0.08, p< 0.001), headache (IRR 0.11, p=0.002), urinary discomfort (IRR 0.16, p< 0.001), constipation (IRR 0.17, p< 0.001), cerebrovascular accident (IRR 0.18, p=0.003), atrial fibrillation (IRR 0.19, p=0.001), osteoarthritis (IRR 0.28, p=0.029), cellulitis (IRR 0.29, p=0.004), pneumonia (IRR 0.34, p=0.001),..."

Medicare • Reimbursement • Retrospective data • US reimbursement • Addiction (Opioid and Alcohol) • Anorexia • Back Pain • CNS Disorders • Lumbar Back Pain • Musculoskeletal Pain • Pain • Sleep Disorder

Healthcare Costs and Resource Use among Chronic Low Back Pain Patients Treated with Belbuca or Buprenorphine Transdermal Patches: A Retrospective US Medicare Claims Analysis (PAINWeek 2024) - "Out of 3,600 Medicare patients prescribed Belbuca or buprenorphine patch, 379 cases have been identified in a final non-matched sample. After PSM analysis, the final matched sample consisted of 124 patients (44 in Belbuca and 80 in buprenorphine patch).Due to the PSM analysis, there were no between-cohort differences in patient characteristics. The mean age of the study sample was ~72 years, predominantly women (65.9% in Belbuca and 72.5% in buprenorphine patch)."

HEOR • Medicare • Reimbursement • Retrospective data • US reimbursement • Addiction (Opioid and Alcohol) • Back Pain • CNS Disorders • Lumbar Back Pain • Musculoskeletal Pain • Pain • Psychiatry • Substance Abuse

Exposures Reported to US Poison Centers Involving Buprenorphine Products for Analgesia Compared to Other Opioid Medications (PAINWeek 2024) - "Buprenorphine-containing tablets and sublingual film formulations are approved for use in the treatment of opioid dependence while buprenorphine transdermal patch (Butrans®) and buccal film (Belbuca®) formulations are approved for the management of severe and persistent pain that requires an extended treatment period with a daily opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatment options are inadequate...However, few studies have directly compared real-world abuse rates between Schedule III buprenorphine products for analgesia and Schedule II opioid medications4, and have included buprenorphine buccal film formulation.Purpose/Objectives: Using real-world data captured in the National Poison Data System (NPDS), this study compared reason for exposure, clinical outcomes, and level of healthcare facility utilization between cases involving (1) buprenorphine buccal film, (2) buprenorphine transdermal patch, (3) Schedule II immediate-release opioid formulations..."

Addiction (Opioid and Alcohol) • CNS Disorders • Depression • Pain • Psychiatry

Comparison of Nonmedical Use of Buprenorphine Products for Analgesia Compared to Other Opioid Medications in Adults Evaluated for Substance Use with the Addiction Severity Index-Multimedia Version (ASI-MV®) (PAINWeek 2024) - "Background: Buprenorphine has been approved for analgesia in the US as an intravenous/intramuscular injection (Buprenex®) since 1982, as a transdermal patch (Butrans®) since 2010, and as a buccal film (Belbuca®) since 2015...However, few studies have directly compared real-world abuse rates between buprenorphine products for analgesia and Schedule II opioid medications4, and have included buprenorphine buccal film in those comparisons which is the most recent buprenorphine product approved for analgesia.Purpose/Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the rates of nonmedical use (NMU; misuse/abuse) among four product groups: (1) buprenorphine buccal film, (2) buprenorphine transdermal patch, (3) Schedule II immediate-release opioid formulations (CII-IR; solid oral dosage forms of IR formulations containing hydrocodone, oxycodone, hydromorphone, oxymorphone, and tapentadol), and (4) Schedule II extended-release opioid formulations (CII-ER; solid..."

Clinical • Addiction (Opioid and Alcohol) • CNS Disorders • Depression • Pain • Psychiatry • Substance Abuse