Martindale Pharma announces UK launch of Prenoxad Injection for opioid overdose

May 3 2013

Martindale Pharma, a leader in the manufacture and supply of specialty pharmaceuticals, is pleased to announce the UK launch of Prenoxad Injection, the world's first licensed emergency treatment for acute opioid related overdose for use at home or other non-medical settings.  

Prenoxad Injection is a Prescription Only Medicine (POM) containing a solution of naloxone hydrochloride. It is intended for emergency use for the complete or partial reversal of life-threatening respiratory depression following the administration of natural or synthetic opioids. Naloxone is an 'opioid antagonist' medicine with an excellent safety and efficacy profile following use over more than four decades.

Prenoxad Injection will be made available to people who are at risk of opioid related overdose or to their nominated client or representative. It will be administered as part of an emergency resuscitation intervention in suspected overdose casualties and must be used in combination with other basic life support measures. The use of Prenoxad Injection should always be preceded by calling emergency services and requesting an ambulance.

There are more than 1,000 fatal opioid related overdoses in the UK each year alone, with a significant proportion of these being witnessed by other people who use drugs, family members and loved ones. It is recognised that the availability of naloxone at the scene of the overdose can help to reduce this figure.

The UK Government, and each of the devolved administrations have identified overdose and drugs related deaths as a significant public health concern and reducing these deaths is a key goal. The provision of naloxone to people at risk of overdose is already underway in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland on a national basis, with many local programmes in existence across England. In May 2012 the Advisory Council on Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) published a report on naloxone including the recommendation that: "Naloxone should be made more widely available to tackle the high numbers of fatal opioid overdoses in the UK."

Martindale Pharma has developed Prenoxad Injection following extensive consultation and networking with those responsible for commissioning and delivering outcome focused recovery orientated services, as well as the people who use these services.

Richard de Souza , Chief Executive Officer of Martindale Pharma, commented:

"We are pleased to have launched the world's first licensed emergency treatment for acute opioid related overdose. More than 1,000 deaths occur each year in the UK as a result of opiate related overdoses and the introduction of Prenoxad Injection marks an important advance in supporting recovery programmes designed to reduce the number of avoidable deaths."

The Prenoxad Injection pack has been tailored for use by non-healthcare profession individuals in non-clinical settings and comprises of: a yellow translucent plastic box, one pre-filled syringe containing 2ml of 1mg /ml naloxone hydrochloride and two 23G x 1¼ inch needles, inside the box is a Patient Information Leaflet containing product instructions and first aid guidelines appropriate to managing opiate overdose.

In addition to the physical Prenoxad Injection pack, Martindale Pharma fully supports the essential role of education in harm prevention and reduction of opioid overdose and consequently has committed to, and created a platform of educational tools on the safe and effective use of Prenoxad Injection in treating opiate related overdose.