Indivior PLC has shared new results from a clinical trial that show how a quicker, more patient-focused way to start SUBLOCADE treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) could work. These findings were published in JAMA Network Open and come from a study that compared two approaches to beginning SUBLOCADE, which is a long-acting form of buprenorphine.
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The study included people with moderate to severe OUD who also used opioids in high-risk ways, such as injecting often, taking large amounts of opioids, or being exposed to fentanyl. Researchers looked at a fast method where patients took a single 4 mg dose of oral buprenorphine and then received a SUBLOCADE injection on the same day. This was compared to the usual method, which involves at least seven days of gradually increasing oral buprenorphine doses before the first injection.
The results showed that the fast method was not only safe but also helped patients stay in treatment longer by the time of their second injection. These results were seen in all participants and were even more noticeable in those who tested positive for fentanyl. This is especially important because staying in care during the first stages of treatment is a major challenge in managing OUD.
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The study also checked the safety of giving the second SUBLOCADE injection just one week after the first, instead of waiting longer. Both groups had similar safety outcomes with similar rates of side effects, suggesting that this faster schedule might be a good option for many patients. This could help create more flexible and responsive care plans, especially for high-risk groups.
Christian Heidbreder, Ph.D., Indivior’s Chief Scientific Officer, highlighted the importance of these findings. He noted that being able to start SUBLOCADE on the same day as initial oral buprenorphine treatment—safely—provides a key chance to keep patients involved during the earliest and most difficult parts of recovery. Heidbreder said this timely help is especially valuable for fentanyl-related OUD, which continues to cause many overdoses and challenges in the healthcare system. SUBLOCADE is approved for treating moderate to severe opioid use disorder in people who have started treatment with a transmucosal buprenorphine product or are already on buprenorphine therapy. It is meant to be used as part of a full treatment plan that includes behavioral therapy and other support services.
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