Massachusetts governor bans Zohydro

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick declared opiate addiction a Zohydro ER hydrocodone bitartrate from Zogenix Inc. (NASDAQ:ZGNX). Zohydro is an oral, non-abuse-deterrent extended-release (ER) formulation of hydrocodone. Patrick said the ban would last until FDA approves an abuse deterrent formulation. Zogenix said the ban "unfairly restricts patient access" and noted that most other opioids on the market are "both equal to or more potent than Zohydro ER" and available in higher strengths.

Zogenix has also been under fire at the federal level from legislators as well as patient groups, addiction centers and state attorneys general, who have called on FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg to reconsider the agency's approval of Zohydro or to set a rigorous timeline for the product to be reformulated to be abuse deterrent (see BioCentury Extra, March 11). ...