Mundipharma files Targin for European approval

Privately-held Swiss drugmaker Mundipharma says that Targin, an oral prolonged-release oxycodone/naloxone combination tablet, has been submitted for regulatory approval in Europe.

The company explains that Targin is a combination of a strong opioid receptor agonist, oxycodone, and a locally-acting opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone. Oxycodone provides the analgesic effect, while naloxone, exerting its effect only in the gut (before being eliminated by the liver), prevents the onset of opioid-induced constipation through blockade of the opioid receptors found in the gut.

The drug was granted marketing authorization in Germany in May 2006, on the condition that further trial data is provided, and this has now been done, with Germany acting as the reference European Union member state, the company says.