One of the hottest topics in the pharmaceutical world is the opioid crisis in the United States. With an estimated 47,000 opioid-related deaths in 2017 alone, the pressure is mounting for the FDA to find a solution. The latest development, as noted in a recent BioSpace article, is that the agency is planning new dosage forms and small-quantity packaging as part of its effort to curb abuse.
“We plan to implement the initial steps to require unit of dose packaging in the first half of 2019. Specifically, the FDA is considering use of this new authority to mandate that certain solid, oral dosage forms of immediate-release formulations of opioid analgesics indicated for treatment of acute pain be made available in short-duration packaging for outpatient dispensing,” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb.
