AcelRx Pharma's pain drug succeeds in late-stage study

Last Updated: 2015-09-09

By Reuters Staff

(Reuters) - AcelRx Pharmaceuticals Inc said its experimental pain drug for patients undergoing abdominal surgery met the main goal in a late-stage study.

Patient receiving the drug, ARX-04, experienced greater pain reduction compared to a placebo, sending AcelRx shares up 22% in premarket trading.

ARX-04 delivers 30 micrograms of the opioid sufentanil under the tongue through a disposable applicator.

AcelRx is trying to develop non-invasive methods of pain management to cope with emergency situations such as in the battlefield where patients have no immediate access to IV.

ARX-04 is the second-most advanced pain drug in AcelRx's pipeline. The company's lead drug-device, Zalviso (sufentanil sublingual tablets), was rejected by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last year.

AcelRx, with no products on the market, is still in discussions with the FDA about Zalviso's future.