OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma will provide an additional $11 million to non-profit Harm Reduction Therapeutics (HRT) for continued development of HRT’s HRT001 naloxone nasal spray for the reversal of opioid overdose. The additional funding was approved by the court overseeing Purdue’s bankruptcy. Purdue began funding HRT in 2018, and in 2020, Purdue announced that it was providing up to $6.5 million in additional funding for development of the naloxone nasal spray.
HRT recently announced positive Phase 1 results for HRT001, which it is developing as an over-the-counter medication. According to the new announcement, HRT plans to submit an NDA for the nasal spray sometime this year.
HRT CEO Michael Hufford said, “At HRT, we are driven by a commitment to help prevent opioid overdose deaths by working to make naloxone available to everyone. With lives lost every day from opioid overdoses, ensuring broader access to affordable, over-the counter naloxone is an urgent priority. We are continuing to advance the development of OTC naloxone nasal spray to help communities across the country affected by the opioid crisis.”
Purdue Pharma President and CEO Craig Landau commented, “The CDC and other leading health organizations have acknowledged naloxone is a non-addictive, life-saving drug that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose when administered in time. In addition, the American Medical Association has called on the federal government to remove the prescription status of naloxone to make it more available over the counter. However, access to naloxone remains a challenge for many communities in the US. We believe that this medicine, if it receives FDA approval, has the potential to make naloxone nasal spray more accessible and affordable. We and our stakeholders – which consist of all opioid claimants – are committed to helping address the opioid crisis.”
Read the Harm Reduction Therapeutics press release.
