Pharmaceutical Business review

Cipher wins tentative approval for pain drug

While the product meets all the FDA’s requirements for manufacturing quality, clinical safety and efficacy, the company must resolve certain patent issues related to the reference product, Ultram extended-release (ER), before CIP-Tramadol ER is commercialized.

CIP-Tramadol ER capsules are based on patented oral controlled-release bead technology and feature both immediate-release and extended-release properties.

Larry Andrews, president and CEO of Cipher, said: Tentative approval of our extended-release tramadol is another important achievement for our organization and validates the safety and efficacy of this product, which has an attractive profile for a chronic pain medication.

We are working diligently on the remaining steps toward commercialization, including securing a US marketing partner and addressing the outstanding intellectual property issues.   

Cipher Pharmaceuticals is a drug development company, which commercialize novel formulations of marketed molecules using drug delivery technologies. The Company’s lead compound, CIP-FENOFIBRATE, received final approval from the FDA and Health Canada in the first quarter of 2006.