Wyeth’s Relistor results “exciting” for patients using opiates

Wyeth says the findings of a phase III study into its Relistor (methylnaltrexone bromide) treatment from opioid-induced constipation (OIC) are positive.

Relistor has been approved for patients using extreme pain relief for serious illness to promote bowel movement when laxative therapy has been unsuccessful.

The results of the study of the treatment, administered via subcutaneous injection, have been published in the May 29th 2008 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Jay Thomas, a lead author of the study and clinical medical director of the San Diego Hospice and the Institute for Palliative Medicine, said the management of pain in patients with advanced illness was crucial.

He noted that the side effects of some of these pain therapies was a “significant barrier” to providing effective pain management.

“The data ? [is] particularly exciting because not only do they demonstrate that Relistor has the potential to relieve OIC effectively, but that it does so without interfering with much-needed pain relief,” he added.

The US Food and Drug Administration approved Relistor in April.