The first 10 patients received treatment last week with Titan Pharmaceuticals’ (NASDAQ:TTNP) Probuphine implant of buprenorphine, following FDA approval on May 26.
ProbuphineProbuphine was developed using Titan’s long-term, continuous drug delivery platform, ProNeura, for the maintenance treatment of opioid dependence.
To date, more than 1,000 health care providers in 44 states have been trained and certified to provide Probuphine. More than 5,000 health care providers have requested additional information on Probuphine training and will have the opportunity to participate in one of 252 training sessions in 55 U.S. cities this summer, potentially bringing the total number of certified health care providers to more than 2,000 by the end of July and a total of more than 4,000 by the end of 2016.
According to Titan’s development and commercialization partner, Braeburn Pharmaceuticals, insurance companies have also expressed strong interest in discussing how they would provide coverage for Probuphine. Several Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans, as well as United Healthcare, have been among those that approved reimbursement for the first patients implanted.
Titan granted exclusive commercialization rights to Probuphine in the U.S. and Canada to Braeburn in 2012 and is currently exploring licensing opportunities in other countries where buprenorphine treatment is part of the opioid addiction treatment practice.
