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Gottlieb Points To Breakthrough And Localized Therapy Devices For Non-Opioid Pain Control

 
• By Sue Darcey

In one of his last public appearances as US FDA commissioner, Scott Gottlieb identified new opioid-alternative medtech products in the regulatory pipeline that provide distraction therapy and thermal management for pain relief. The agency chief also pointed to old-school devices that provide localized delivery of analgesic drugs as effective opioid-substitute or opioid-reducing devices.

Avanos-OnQ-Pump
The Avanos Medical On-Q Pump with OnDemand is one of many opioid-sparing pain pump devices for pain control

Outgoing US FDA Chief Gottlieb says there are several medtech products that could serve as alternatives to opioids to reduce or control pain, including implantable pumps designed for local delivery of analgesics, as well as products that were designated as breakthrough pain-control devices by the agency in a 2018 “FDA Innovation Challenge."

“I think there are a lot of places for new innovation,” Gottlieb said at a March 29 “Alliance for a Stronger FDA” event in Washington, DC. The meeting...

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• By Shubham Singh

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• By Shubham Singh

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