Depomed, Inc.,a specialty pharmaceutical company, has acquired all United States and Canadian rights to Lazanda (fentanyl) nasal spray from Archimedes Pharma. Lazanda is indicated for the management of breakthrough pain in cancer patients (BTPc) 18 years of age and older who are already receiving and who are tolerant to opioid therapy for their underlying persistent cancer pain.

"Breakthrough pain is highly prevalent in populations with cancer pain and studies have shown that it is associated with more distress, poorer function and higher cost of care," said Dr Russell Portenoy, chairman, Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care, Beth Israel Medical Centre, New York. "Treatment requires informed drug selection and knowledge of approaches to dose selection, timing and titration that have been developed to minimize risk. Transmucosal immediate-release fentanyl formulations have a faster onset than conventional oral drugs, and for appropriate patients, offer a treatment that may optimize the chance for favourable outcomes."

Lazanda contains fentanyl, which is a Schedule 2 controlled substance, and uses Archimedes patented PecSys drug delivery system. Lazanda delivers fentanyl in a rapid, but controlled manner and is designed to deliver a fine mist spray to the nasal membrane. Each spray of Lazanda forms a gel when it contacts the nasal mucosa. The active ingredient is then rapidly absorbed across the mucus membrane and directly into the blood stream.

Lazanda was introduced by Archimedes in Europe in 2010 under the trade name PecFent and in the United States in 2011. Depomed acquired all United States and Canadian rights to the product in return for $4 million of cash, royalties on net sales, potential milestone payments based on increased sales of Lazanda and assumption of certain liabilities. According to Source Healthcare Analytics, sales of Lazanda in the US were $3.3 million for the 12 months ended June 30, 2013.

"Depomed is pleased to expand our portfolio of pain products with the addition of Lazanda nasal spray," said Jim Schoeneck, Depomed's President and CEO. "We believe that Lazanda is differentiated in the breakthrough cancer pain space, allowing rapid onset of effect and avoiding administration of drug across the oral mucosa, which can be a challenge in some cancer patients. After a short transition period, Depomed will assume full responsibility for Lazanda in the US. We intend to leverage our commercial infrastructure to support the marketing of this product to pain specialists and select oncologists.  We believe we will achieve significant returns for our shareholders from this acquisition."

Depomed, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company with four approved and marketed products. Gralise (gabapentin) is a once-daily treatment approved for the management of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Zipsor (diclofenac potassium) Liquid Filled Capsules is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) indicated for relief of mild to moderate acute pain in adults. Lazanda (fentanyl) Nasal Spray is an intranasal fentanyl drug used to manage breakthrough pain in adults (18 years of age or older) who are already routinely taking other opioid pain medicines around-the-clock for cancer pain.