Clinical pharmacology of fentanyl buccal tablet for the treatment of breakthrough pain

Abstract

Fentanyl buccal tablet (FBT) is a new formulation of fentanyl providing rapid-onset analgesia for the treatment of breakthrough pain. FBT has been approved for the management of breakthrough pain in patients with cancer who are already receiving and who are tolerant to opioid therapy for underlying persistent pain. FBT has demonstrated a favorable pharmacokinetic profile, which is closely aligned to the rapid onset and duration of an episode of breakthrough pain, and is generally safe and well tolerated.

Keywords::

• breakthrough pain
• buccal absorption
• fentanyl
• pain relief
• rapid-onset opioid

Financial & competing interests disclosure

M Darwish and J Messina are employees of Cephalon, Inc., Frazer, PA, USA. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript. Writing assistance was provided by Meridian HealthComms Ltd.