Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has introduced a second generation prototype formulation of its methamphetamine-resistant IMPEDE technology with pseudoephedrine hydrochloride yielded no measurable amount of crystal meth (the street name for the illicit drug methamphetamine hydrochloride) when processed in the direct conversion or one-pot method.

The company also intends to commence development of an upgraded Nexafed [pseudoephedrine hydrochloride] tablet using IMPEDE 2.0 immediately. Nexafed is currently distributed through national and regional drug wholesalers to chain and independent drugstores nationwide.

IMPEDE 2.0 was created through the addition of two new inactive pharmaceutical ingredients to Acura's existing IMPEDE technology. IMPEDE 2.0 was tested by an outside laboratory using an optimized, high yield direct conversion test method that is designed to replicate the direct conversion, or one-pot, process commonly utilized by clandestine methamphetamine laboratories. IMPEDE 2.0 yielded no measurable amount of methamphetamine in its initial testing compared to an approximate 38 per cent yield with the older IMPEDE technology. Acura intends to validate these results, and perform its battery of extraction tests on the reformulated Nexafed tablets.

"We are excited to advance our IMPEDE technology demonstrating its adaptability to the ever changing meth production problem," said Robert B Jones, president and chief executive officer of Acura Pharmaceuticals. "Nexafed is the only meth-resistant pseudoephedrine product on the market that meets the Food and Drug Administration's bioequivalence standards for demonstrated effectiveness. If Nexafed with IMPEDE 2.0 can also meet that standard, we believe we will have a meth-resistant pseudoephedrine product that delivers unmatched performance."

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive illicit drug used non-medically by an estimated 13 million people at some point in their lifetime. In 2006, the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act (CMEA) was enacted in response to an alarming increase in and widespread conversion of pseudoephedrine (PSE) containing products into methamphetamine. Among other things, the CMEA requires retail stores to maintain their inventory of PSE containing products in a secured location and restricts the amount of PSE products a store can sell to an individual customer. In response to the ongoing methamphetamine problem, several local jurisdictions (state, counties and/or local municipalities) have enacted or propose to enact legislation to require a physician's prescription to obtain a PSE-containing product.

PSE is a widely-used nasal decongestant available in many non-prescription and prescription cold, sinus and allergy products. PSE is sold in products as the only active ingredient in both immediate and extended-release products. In addition, PSE is combined with other cold, sinus and allergy ingredients such as pain relievers, cough suppressants and antihistamines. PSE also competes against phenylephrine, an alternate nasal decongestant available in non-prescription products. In 2009, AC Nielsen reported approximately $1.0 billion in sales of non-prescription products containing either PSE or phenylephrine as a nasal decongestant, of which approximately 47 per cent contained PSE.

Nexafed [pseudoephedrine hydrochloride] is a 30 mg immediate-release abuse-deterrent decongestant. The next generation pseudoephedrine tablet combines effective nasal congestion relief with IMPEDE technology, a unique polymer matrix that disrupts the conversion of pseudoephedrine into the dangerous drug, methamphetamine. IMPEDE technology forms a thick gel when the tablets are dissolved in solvents typically used in the pseudoephedrine extraction or methamphetamine production processes, trapping the pseudoephedrine or converted methamphetamine to resist its isolation or purification.

Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing to market safe and effective products intended to address medication abuse and misuse.