Why carry out this study?

Overdose of opioid analgesics, with associated respiratory depression and risk of death, can occur either during medical use or from drug abuse; there is a need to develop safer opioids with a lower potential for abuse.

Pharmacokinetic (PK) properties, such as high maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and short time to reach Cmax (Tmax), are likely related to the abuse potential/drug liking of opioid analgesics.

What did the study ask?

Buprenorphine, a partial µ-opioid receptor agonist, was evaluated in comparison with oxycodone, a full µ-opioid receptor agonist, for PK properties and respiratory depression effects.

What was learned from the study?

Buprenorphine buccal film (BBF) compared to immediate-release oxycodone was associated with increased Tmax, lower Cmax, and slower respiratory depression in human subjects administered therapeutic doses of each drug.

These results suggest that BBF may have a decreased risk for abuse compared to oxycodone.