Elite Pharmaceuticals Inc (ELTP)

[WeeZuhl]

Interesting, thanks for sharing.




It is more interesting what they will cover. Also, keep in mind, this is only one Blue Cross plan (Alabama).




https://www.al.com/news/2018/11/blue-cross-changes-opioid-coverage-drops-standard-oxycontin.html?outputType=amp

OxyContin and its generic version, oxycodone ER, will no longer be covered. But Xtampza ER, a new formulation of oxycodone ER, will be. Abusers often crush extended-release painkillers such as OxyContin into powder, to get more of the drug into their systems faster; various medical references describe Xtampza ER as a formulation designed to thwart that approach.

"Xtampza ER maintained its ER characteristics after crushing, unlike many other commercially available opioid formulations, including some formulated with abuse-deterrent properties," found one study. "As such, Xtampza ER may be less appealing to abusers and offer a margin of safety for patients who manipulate dosage forms to facilitate swallowing."

Blue Cross and Blue Shield also will cover Roxybond, "a new instant release OxyContin formulation that is considered 'abuse deterrent' by the FDA," the insurer said.

Xtampza got the chewing ADF label, making it superior to OxyContin in the mind of several insurers, including this one. I haven't previously seen anyone come out and say they will pay for Roxybond. That drug isn't even on the market right now, but more decisions like this might bring it out.


Also, FDA recently announced AdCom for 2nd ADF oxy IR. And then we have SequestOx, plus Elite's new physiochemical oxyIR ADF. If all 4 of those ADF drugs were eventually approved, then I think the FDA might consider ditching non-ADF oxyIR. For the time being, the real competition is not the other ADF's but rather the much cheaper non-ADF generics. It is very encouraging to see a big insurance company come out and agree to pay for a brand name IR ADF. That is very good news for Elite. It is also good news to see that ins company paying attention to Xtampza's chewing ADF label. SequestOx should definitely get this label, making it superior (and hopefully preferred) over all of the physiochemical ADF's.