FDA panel rejects Avridi opoid pain drug - Purdue Pharma

A panel of outside advisers to the FDA voted against approving Purdue Pharma's opioid painkiller,Avridi, over concerns of overdosing. The recommendation follows comments from the health regulator's staff on likely errors in administering the experimental drug.

The FDA panel voted 23 to 1 against the approval. Avridi is designed to be taken every 4-6 hours on an empty stomach and the presence of food could cause inadequate pain control. Inadequate pain control could lead to patients taking more of the drug, the FDA staff had said. Most painkillers can be administered irrespective of food intake.