Archimedes Pharma receives SMC backing for PecFent

Archimedes Pharma has had its new cancer pain treatment PecFent approved for use among Scottish NHS patients.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has recommended the fentanyl pectin nasal spray for the treatment of breakthrough cancer pain among those unsuitable for therapy via short-acting oral opioids.

PecFent has been shown in phase III trials to deliver pain relief that takes effect within five minutes of use, providing clinically meaningful reductions from ten minutes onward.

It is designed to address a condition that is thought to affect 62 percent of all cancer patients on average, impacting on their quality of life.

Jeffrey Buchalter, president and chief executive officer of Archimedes Pharma, said: "The SMC's balanced review of PecFent's clinical effectiveness and health economic value supports Archimedes' belief that PecFent provides a real opportunity … to improve the management of breakthrough cancer pain."

This comes after the firm published clinical data for PecFent in October 2010 that demonstrated the drug's long-term safety and tolerability.