Nutra Pharma Launches Nyloxin Rx for Severe Chronic Pain

Nutra Pharma, a biotechnology company, has announced its intent to launch Nyloxin Rx, a prescription medicine for the treatment of severe chronic pain. Developed by ReceptoPharm, Nutra Pharma's drug discovery subsidiary, Nyloxin Rx uses a novel mechanism from cobra venom peptides to relieve pain without relying on opioids. The company aims to introduce Nyloxin Rx to physicians later this year, targeting the 237 million U.S. opioid prescriptions issued in 2008, with over 85 million specifically for chronic pain.

Key Takeaways:

Nyloxin Rx is a prescription pain reliever developed by ReceptoPharm, Nutra Pharma's wholly-owned drug discovery subsidiary.
The medication uses a novel mechanism from cobra venom peptides to relieve pain, unlike opioid-based pain therapies.
Nyloxin Rx is aimed at treating Stage 3 pain, which inhibits one's ability to fully function, and is distinct from Stage 2 pain that interferes with both work and sleep.
According to IMS Health, there were a total of 237 million U.S. opioid prescriptions in 2008, with over 85 million specifically for the treatment of chronic pain.
Nutra Pharma plans to launch Nyloxin Rx directly to market, skipping the need for additional clinical trials, due to the drug's well-defined safety profile and monographed active pharmaceutical ingredient.
Nutra Pharma will also use its financial and strategic resources to begin additional human clinical trials for its other drug indications outside of pain.

Statistics:

237 million U.S. opioid prescriptions in 2008 (IMS Health)
85 million U.S. opioid prescriptions specifically for chronic pain in 2008 (IMS Health)
$2.89 billion in sales of Oxycodone (not including Percodan) from January to October 2008 (Journal Gazette)
$1.55 billion in sales of Fentanyl from January to October 2008 (Journal Gazette)

Sources:

Nutra Pharma Corp. press release, no date specified
IMS Health, no date specified
Journal Gazette, December 2008, no specific date mentioned