The treatment has been developed to provide rapid relief to people suffering from breakthrough cancer pain, which affects 95 per cent of all cancer patients, according to Archimedes, and is characterised by sudden, unpredictable episodes of intense pain.

To minimise the delay in the onset of action Archimedes has formulated fentanyl using its PecSys technology, which allows for effective intranasal delivery using standard spray pumps.

Marie Fallon, St Columba's Hospice Chair of Palliative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, said: "These data are hugely exciting. This is the first time a simple-to-use fentanyl product has been shown to be superior to the standard treatment for breakthrough cancer pain. NasalFent offers the prospect of greatly improving the management of this distressing and common complication of cancer."

PecSys delivery tech

The NasalFent formulation is underpinned by Archimedes’ PecSys delivery technology, which is designed to improve the bioavailability of drugs administered to mucosal surfaces.

PecSys achieves this by creating a low viscosity aqueous solution that can be administered in low doses as a fine mist. Once a droplet comes into contact with the mucosal surface it forms a gel that facilitates the movement of the therapeutic into the circulatory system.

Administration by this route provides an effect means of modulating drug delivery, according to Archimedes, and is useful for changing the adsorption profiles of lipophilic drugs that normally rapidly enter systemic circulation.