Major Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Improves Access for Both Products to Approximately 14 Million Lives
Symproic Will be Listed as Preferred Exclusive and BELBUCA Preferred or Preferred Exclusive
RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. (NASDAQ: BDSI), a specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to patients living with chronic conditions, today announced that a major PBM will begin providing improved patient access to BELBUCA® (buprenorphine buccal film), CIII, and Symproic® (naldemedine) tablets 0.2 mg beginning October 1, 2019, with full plan adoption by January 1, 2020. This will enable approximately 14 million covered lives within both commercial and health exchange plans to access BELBUCA as either the preferred or preferred exclusive buprenorphine product within their respective plans and Symproic as the preferred exclusive product within its class. The addition of this large national PBM brings the total number of commercial lives with preferred access to BELBUCA to more than 104 million (out of more than 160 million with coverage) and more than 76 million overall covered lives for Symproic.
“We continue to see growing recognition by payers for the clinical value of BELBUCA and the importance to ensure appropriate access and reimbursement for buprenorphine products as emphasized by the HHS led Pain Management Best Practices inter-Agency Task Force report,” stated Scott Plesha, President and Chief Commercial Officer of BDSI. We remain committed to further building upon this momentum and ensuring all patients in the US have appropriate access to BELBUCA. Similarly, we are very pleased by the significant access expansion this change provides for patients who can benefit from the differentiated profile of Symproic and look forward to further building upon this success.
BELBUCA is approved in the U.S. for the management of pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment for which alternative treatment options are inadequate. BELBUCA utilizes BDSI's patented BioErodible MucoAdhesive (BEMA®) drug delivery technology to deliver buprenorphine, which is a Schedule III (or C III) medicine. Schedule III drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. Schedule III drugs abuse potential is less than Schedule I and Schedule II drugs. For more information on the DEA drug schedule classification, visit https://www.dea.gov/drug-scheduling.
Please see Important Safety Information about BELBUCA below. For full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning, visit www.belbuca.com.
Symproic is an opioid antagonist indicated for the treatment of opioid induced constipation (OIC) in adult patients with chronic non-cancer pain, including patients with chronic pain related to prior cancer or its treatment who do not require frequent (e.g., weekly) opioid dosage escalation.
Please see Important Safety Information about Symproic below. For full Prescribing Information visit www.symproic.com
ABOUT BIODELIVERY SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. (NASDAQ: BDSI) is a rapidly growing commercial-stage specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to patients living with chronic conditions. BDSI is utilizing its novel and proprietary BioErodible MucoAdhesive (BEMA®) technology and other drug delivery technologies to develop and commercialize, either on its own or in partnership with third parties, new applications of proven therapies aimed at addressing important unmet medical needs. BDSI's marketed products and those in development address serious and debilitating conditions such as chronic pain, breakthrough cancer pain, and opioid dependence. For more information, please visit us at www.bdsi.com or follow us on Facebook or Twitter BDSI @BioDeliverySI.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT BELBUCA®
BELBUCA® (buprenorphine buccal film), CIII is indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment and for which alternative treatment options are inadequate.
Limitations of Use
Because of the risks of addiction, abuse, and misuse with opioids, even at recommended doses, and because of the greater risks of overdose and death with long-acting opioid formulations, reserve BELBUCA® for use in patients for whom alternative treatment options (e.g., non-opioid analgesics or immediate-release opioids) are ineffective, not tolerated, or would be otherwise inadequate to provide sufficient management of pain.
BELBUCA® is not indicated as an as-needed (prn) analgesic.
| WARNING: ADDICTION, ABUSE, AND MISUSE; RISK EVALUATION AND MITIGATION STRATEGY (REMS); LIFE-THREATENING RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION; ACCIDENTAL EXPOSURE; NEONATAL OPIOID WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME; and RISKS FROM CONCOMITANT USE WITH BENZODIAZEPINES AND OTHER CNS DEPRESSANTS Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse BELBUCA® exposes patients and other users to the risks of opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death. Assess patient’s risk prior to prescribing BELBUCA® and monitor patients regularly for these behaviors and conditions. Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) To ensure that the benefits of opioid analgesics outweigh the risks of addiction, abuse, and misuse, the FDA has required a REMS for these products. Under the requirements of the REMS, drug companies with approved opioid analgesic products must make REMS-compliant education programs available to healthcare providers. Healthcare providers are strongly encouraged to
Serious, life-threatening, or fatal respiratory depression may occur with use of BELBUCA®. Monitor for respiratory depression, especially during initiation of BELBUCA® or following a dose increase. Accidental Exposure Accidental exposure to even one dose of BELBUCA®, especially by children, can result in a fatal overdose of buprenorphine. Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome Prolonged use of BELBUCA® during pregnancy can result in neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, which may be life-threatening if not recognized and treated, and requires management according to protocols developed by neonatology experts. If opioid use is required for a prolonged period in a pregnant woman, advise the patient of the risk of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome and ensure that appropriate treatment will be available. Risks from Concomitant Use with Benzodiazepines or Other CNS Depressants Concomitant use of opioids with benzodiazepines or other central nervous system (CNS) depressants, including alcohol, may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death. Reserve concomitant prescribing for use in patients for whom alternative treatment options are inadequate; limit dosages and durations to the minimum required; and follow patients for signs and symptoms of respiratory depression and sedation. |
BELBUCA® is contraindicated in patients with significant respiratory depression; acute or severe bronchial asthma in an unmonitored setting or in the absence of resuscitative equipment; known or suspected gastrointestinal obstruction, including paralytic ileus; and hypersensitivity (e.g., anaphylaxis) to buprenorphine.
BELBUCA® contains buprenorphine, a Schedule III controlled substance. As an opioid, BELBUCA® exposes users to the risks of addiction, abuse, and misuse. Although the risk of addiction in any individual is unknown, it can occur in patients appropriately prescribed BELBUCA® and in those who obtain the drug illicitly. Addiction can occur at recommended doses and if the drug is misused or abused.
Potential serious adverse events caused by opioids include addiction, abuse, and misuse; life-threatening respiratory depression; neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome; risks due to interactions with benzodiazepines or other central nervous system depressants; risk of life-threatening respiratory depression in patients with chronic pulmonary disease or in elderly, cachectic, or debilitated patients; adrenal insufficiency; QTc prolongation; severe hypotension; risks of use in patients with increased intracranial pressure, brain tumors, head injury, or impaired consciousness; hepatotoxicity; risk of overdose in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment; anaphylactic/allergic reactions; risk of use in patients with gastrointestinal conditions; increased risk of seizures in patients with seizure disorders; risks of use in cancer patients with oral mucositis; risks of driving and operating machinery.
The most common adverse reactions (≥5%) reported by patients treated with BELBUCA® in the clinical trials were nausea, constipation, headache, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, somnolence, diarrhea, dry mouth, and upper respiratory tract infection.
For full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning, visit www.belbuca.com.To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. at 1-800-469-0261 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT Symproic®
Symproic® (naldemedine) is indicated for the treatment of OIC in adult patients with chronic non-cancer pain, including patients with chronic pain related to prior cancer or its treatment who do not require frequent (e.g., weekly) opioid dosage escalation. Symproic® was made available to patients in the US in October 2017.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Patients with known or suspected gastrointestinal (GI) obstruction and patients at increased risk of recurrent obstruction, due to the potential for GI perforation.
Patients with a history of a hypersensitivity reaction to Symproic. Reactions have included bronchospasm and rash.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Cases of GI perforation have been reported with use of another peripherally acting opioid antagonist in patients with conditions that may be associated with localized or diffuse reduction of structural integrity in the wall of the GI tract. Monitor for the development of severe, persistent, or worsening abdominal pain; discontinue if this symptom develops.
Symptoms consistent with opioid withdrawal, including hyperhidrosis, chills, increased lacrimation, hot flush/flushing, pyrexia, sneezing, feeling cold, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting have occurred in patients treated with Symproic.
Patients having disruptions to the blood-brain barrier may be at increased risk for opioid withdrawal or reduced analgesia. Take into account the overall risk-benefit profile when using Symproic in such patients. Monitor for symptoms of opioid withdrawal in such patients.
DRUG INTERACTIONS
Avoid use with strong CYP3A inducers (e.g., rifampin) because they may reduce the efficacy of Symproic.
Use with moderate (e.g., fluconazole) and strong (e.g., itraconazole) CYP3A inhibitors and P-glycoprotein inhibitors (e.g., cyclosporine) may increase Symproic concentrations. Monitor for potential adverse reactions.
Avoid use of Symproic with another opioid antagonist due to potential for additive effect and increased risk of opioid withdrawal.
USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
Symproic crosses the placenta and may precipitate opioid withdrawal in a fetus due to the immature fetal blood-brain barrier. Symproic should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions, including opioid withdrawal in breastfed infants, a decision should be made to discontinue breastfeeding or discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.
Avoid use in patients with severe hepatic impairment. No dose adjustment of Symproic is required in patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
The most common adverse reactions with Symproic as compared to placebo in clinical trials were: abdominal pain (8% vs 2%), diarrhea (7% vs 2%), nausea (4% vs 2%), and gastroenteritis (2% vs 1%).
In pooled Studies 1 and 2, the incidence of adverse reactions of opioid withdrawal was 1% (8/542) for Symproic and 1% (3/546) for placebo. In Study 3 (52-week data), the incidence was 3% (20/621) for Symproic and 1% (9/619) for placebo.
Please see accompanying Full Prescribing Information including Medication Guide for Symproic or visit www.symproic.com/pi.
To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. at 1-800-469-0261 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch
CAUTIONARY NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release and any statements of employees, representatives, and partners of BDSI related thereto contain, or may contain, among other things, certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to the BDSI’s plans, objectives, projections, expectations and intentions and other statements identified by words such as “projects,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “potential” or similar expressions. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the BDSI’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in the BDSI’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth or implied in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on various factors (many of which are beyond the BDSI’s control) including those set forth in our 2018 annual report on Form 10-K filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission and subsequent filings. BDSI undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future presentations or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
© 2019 BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. All rights reserved.
Contacts
Bob Yedid
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
(646) 597-6989
bob@lifesciadvisors.com