Benzinga | Jan 18, 2022 07:39AM EST

Nutriband Announces Expanded Pipeline For AVERSA Abuse Deterrent Technology

Nutriband Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRB)(NASDAQ:NTRBW) announced an expanded product development pipeline for its proprietary AVERSA(tm) abuse deterrent transdermal technology. The AVERSA abuse deterrent technology platform can be applied to any transdermal patch that has a risk of abuse, misuse or accidental exposure. It is based on incorporating aversive agents into the patch that do not contact the drug matrix and are not delivered to the skin.

Nutriband's lead product is AVERSA Fentanyl which incorporates abuse deterrent properties into a transdermal fentanyl patch and was recently determined to have a potential market of $80 - $200 million1. Based on a preliminary market assessment, Nutriband has identified other valuable markets for transdermal products with a risk of abuse, misuse, diversion or accidental exposure that could benefit from its AVERSA technology. Currently marketed transdermal products that have labeled warnings for the risk of abuse include buprenorphine and methylphenidate and both products have reports of abuse or misuse. These two products, AVERSA buprenorphine and AVERSA methylphenidate, will be added to the product development pipeline with AVERSA Fentanyl.

AVERSA buprenorphine has the potential to be an abuse deterrent version of transdermal buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist, marketed as Butrans(r) or its generics, which is indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment and for which alternative treatment options are inadequate.

AVERSA methylphenidate has the potential to be an abuse deterrent version of transdermal methylphenidate, a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant, marketed as Daytrana(r), indicated for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

"We are excited about the opportunity to expand our AVERSA product pipeline, as we believe it has the potential to improve the profile of transdermal products that include labeled warnings for abuse, misuse, diversion or accidental exposure," said Jeff Patrick, Pharm.D., Chief Scientific Officer.

"AVERSA is a platform technology that can be deployed in almost any transdermal product that carries a risk of abuse or misuse. It is our mission to reduce the risk profile of these drugs while ensuring availability for patients that need them," said Gareth Sheridan, CEO.

The recent announcement of a feasibility agreement with Kindeva Drug Delivery, a world leader in transdermal manufacturing, sets the development of Nutriband's lead product, AVERSA Fentanyl, in motion. Nutriband's strategy with the AVERSA platform is to focus on advancing the technology first for transdermal fentanyl and then utilizing the technology to reduce the risk of abuse for transdermal buprenorphine and methylphenidate.

1 Health Advances market analysis; peak annual US sales roughly five years after launch.