S-P's sugammadex produces rapid recovery

US drug major Schering-Plough says that a study published in the November issue of Anesthesiology shows that sugammadex produced a significantly more rapid recovery from profound rocuronium-induced muscle relaxation than the conventional reversal agent neostigmine.

According to the firm, this is the first comparative study to demonstrate that rapid reversal of profound rocuronium-induced muscle relaxation is possible. In the Phase III trial, the median time to recovery was 2.7 minutes in the sugammadex group versus 49.0 minutes in the neostigmine arm.

S-P's novel selective relaxant binding agent works in an entirely new and unique way to encapsulate the muscle relaxant molecule and render it inactive. Earlier this year (Marketletter August 11), the US Food and Drug Administration gave the drug a "not-approvable" letter citing concerns over hypersensitivity and allergic reactions, despite being approved in the European Union where it is sold as Bridion.