FDA chief defends new pain drug despite worries about abuse

[riky]

FDA chief defends new pain drug despite worries about abuse

<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/fda-chief-defends-pain-drug-despite-worries-abuse-202159193--finance.html"><img src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/9SvTPg9ziBpxIe1YwCnspA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9NzU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2014-03-13T202827Z_2_CBREA2C1KKQ00_RTROPTP_2_USA.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="Margaret Hamburg, Commissioner of the U.S. FDA, speaks during the 2013 Reuters Health Summit in New York" align="left" title="Margaret Hamburg, Commissioner of the U.S. FDA, speaks during the 2013 Reuters Health Summit in New York" border="0" /></a>By Susan Heavey WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The head of the Food and Drug Administration on Thursday defended the agency's approval of Zohydro, a powerful prescription opioid made by Zogenix Inc, saying it offers a &quot;unique&quot; option to treat pain despite concerns about potential abuse. The FDA's approval of the drug has drawn a flood of criticism, including protests from the attorneys general of 28 states as well as dozens of groups representing doctors and addiction treatment specialists who are concerned that Zohydro will set off a wave of addiction similar to problems with the original form of OxyContin, another opioid. These critics have petitioned the FDA to consider pulling the drug's marketing approval. FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, testifying at a Senate hearing, acknowledged that Zohydro is &quot;a powerful drug&quot; but said &quot;...that if appropriately used, it serves an important and unique niche with respect to pain medication and it meets the standards for safety and efficacy.&quot; Her comments to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee come barely a week after Zogenix said it was making the painkiller available at &quot;select pharmacies&quot; following the drug's FDA approval in October.</p><br clear="all"/>

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