Historic First: FDA calls for opioid to be removed from market based on risk of abuse

‘In an unprecedented move, the US Food and Drug Administration has requested a drugmaker withdraw an opioid pain medicine from the market due to its potential for abuse. The agency cited the current “opioid epidemic” as a catalyst for the move.
The FDA has targeted the reformulated version of Opana ER, or oxymorphone hydrochloride, for market removal, calling on its manufacturer, Ireland-based Endo Pharmaceuticals, to take voluntary steps to do so.
If Endo chooses not to withdraw Opana ER ‒ first approved by the FDA in 2006 – the federal agency said it would take steps to rescind its approval of the drug.
“We are facing an opioid epidemic ‒ a public health crisis, and we must take all necessary steps to reduce the scope of opioid misuse and abuse,”said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb.’
Read more: Historic First: FDA calls for opioid to be removed from market based on risk of abuse