Some Benefits Seen in Abuse Resistant Form of OxyContin

A new version of Purdue Pharma’s powerful painkiller OxyContin provided limited protection against abuse, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The Associated Press reported Sept. 22 that the new pills, with a plastic-like coating, are not foolproof but “may provide an advantage over the currently available OxyContin.” Purdue Pharma says the coating makes the drug harder to crush for the purposes of snorting or injection.

The company is currently seeking FDA approval for the new OxyContin pills. Purdue Pharma, which sold $2 billion worth of the drug last year, said that if approved the new version of OxyContin will become the only one available on the market.