Phosphagenics' opioid patch eases pain in horses

Phosphagenics (ASX:POH) said all racehorses treated with its TPM/oxycodone pain patch during a proof-of-concept trial recovered from pain within 1-2 days.

Six thoroughbreds exhibiting shinbone soreness arising from injuries were treated with the patch over a ten-day period. All the horses exhibited soreness rated as either moderate or severe based on the Veterinary Lameness Scores.

The results show that five of the horses showed no signs of lameness within 24 hours of the first patch application, and the sixth was pain free by the second application within 48 hours.

Because TPM/oxycodone is administered through a patch, the product has the potential to address one of the main health issues for thoroughbred racehorses, the gastric ulceration associated with some systemic drug treatments.

The principal veterinarian involved in the trial, Dr John Walker, called the early results “extremely encouraging. I have seen hundreds of cases of shin soreness in my 20 years as an equine veterinarian and the oxycodone patch is far and away the best form of pain relief I have seen.”

Phosphagenics conducted the proof-of-concept study in collaboration with Veterinary Research Australia, the R&D division of its animal health partner Integrated Animal Health.

TPM/oxycodone is mainly being developed for human use, and next quarter Phosphagenics will commence a phase II trial of the product in neuropathic pain.

Phosphagenics (ASX:POH) shares were trading 13.33% higher at $0.085 as of around 1 pm on Wednesday.