title: Fentanyl citrate sublingual formulation (Vellofent®) for quick BTcP hindering.
abstract: The management of cancer pain presents manifold challenges: even though background pain is adequately controlled, patients frequently experience episodes of acute pain exacerbation known as breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP). The characteristics of BTcP are a rapid onset, a short duration, and a severe intensity. An innovative sublingual fentanyl citrate formulation (Vellofent®) has been developed to target BTcP. The new formulation allows to increase the solubility of fentanyl and to provide optimal oromucosal conditions for rapid drug absorption, thus featuring a shorter time to onset of pain relief (from 6 minutes post-administration).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy - patrizia.romualdi@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Romualdi
authors.forename: Sanzio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Candeletti
mesh_terms: D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D059390:Breakthrough Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D059408:Pain Management; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D005283:Fentanyl