Method of managing or treating pain

Document Type and Number:

United States Patent 8889176

Abstract:

A composition for the intranasal delivery of fentanyl or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to an animal includes an aqueous solution of fentanyl or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable additive selected from (i) a pectin and (ii) a poloxamer and chitosan or a salt or derivative thereof; provided that when the composition comprises a pectin it is substantially free of divalent metal ions; and which, in comparison to a simple aqueous solution of fentanyl administered intranasally at the same dose, provides a peak plasma concentration of fentanyl (C_max) that is from 10 to 80% of that achieved using a simple aqueous solution of fentanyl administered intranasally at an identical fentanyl dose. 

A method for treating or managing pain by intranasally administering the composition is also disclosed.