Relistor for treating OIC

ROCKVILLE, Maryland-FDA has approved Progenics and Wyeth’s Relistor (methylnaltrexone bromide) subcutaneous injection for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation in patients with advanced illness who are receiving palliative care, when response to laxative therapy has not been sufficient. Relistor is a peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonist that counteracts the constipating effects of opioid pain medications in the GI tract without affecting pain relief.

Jay Thomas, MD, PhD, a Relistor investigator and clinical medical director of San Diego Hospice, said, “Side effects associated with opioids, such as constipation, can be severe enough to limit pain management. I am pleased that we now have a new treatment option to provide relief to advanced-illness patients with opioid-induced constipation.”