Elanco Companion Animal Health has launched Recuvyra 50mg/ml transdermal solution for dogs, the first transdermal fentanyl solution to be licensed for the control of postoperative pain associated with major orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery.Elanco Companion Animal Health has launched Recuvyra 50mg/ml transdermal solution for dogs, the first transdermal fentanyl solution to be licensed for the control of postoperative pain associated with major orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery.

Recuvyra is a schedule two controlled drug which contains fentanyl, a pure μ-agonist synthetic opioid with a potency 100 times that of morphine1. Applied to the area between the shoulder blades by a needleless two-pronged adapter two to four hours prior to surgery, Elanco says Recuvyra provides at least four days of opioid analgesia, which is mainly due to the activation of the μ-opioid receptors inhibiting the perception of pain and the transmission of pain signals in the spinal cord and dorsal horn2.

Elanco says Recuvyra's unique formulation provides long-lasting analgesia by establishing a depot of fentanyl within the stratum corneum. The fentanyl in this depot undergoes passive diffusion down a concentration gradient, and is steadily released into the general circulation over a number of days.

Ed Whittle MA VetMB MRCVS, technical consultant at Elanco said: "Fentanyl is widely used in human health and its powerful analgesic properties are well known amongst veterinary surgeons1, 3, 4. Recuvyra is a ground-breaking veterinary product that will provide long-acting post-operative pain control in dogs while reducing the need for repeated, invasive administration of analgesics in the practice and improved client compliance and the potential for mutimodal analgesia once a dog returns home."

To ensure proper use of Recuvyra, Elanco has produced a mandatory online training programme for veterinary surgeons to complete before ordering the product. The brief online training module, which can be viewed at www.recuvyratraining.eu, features information on the presentation, correct preparation and administration of the product, and the safe handling of patients that have been treated with Recuvyra. Once veterinary surgeons are trained, it is their responsibility to train their staff on the in-practice use of Recuvyra and Elanco has produced a training presentation to help educate veterinary professionals about the product.

To support the launch of Recuvyra, Elanco has produced a dosing calculator, cage cards and client information sheet.  For further information on Recuvyra, please contact your Elanco Companion Animal Health key account manager or email elancocah.uk@elanco.com.

References

  1. Kukanich B., Clark, T.P. The history and pharmacology of fentanyl: relevance to a novel, long-acting transdermal fentanyl solution newly approved for use in dogs. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap.2012. 35 (Suppl. 2), 3-19
  2. Lascelles BDX. Clinical pharmacology of analgesic agents. In Hellebrekers LJ ed. Animal Pain. The Netherlands: Van der Wees 2000:85-97
  3. Pain Management in Dogs, Elanco Market Research. 2009. DmrKynetec
  4. Lemke, Kip A., Creighton, Catherine M. Analgesia for Anesthetized Patients. Elsevier Topical review. Volume 25, Number 2, May 2010

 

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