Federal regulators cleared an entirely new way to tackle opioid addiction, approving on Thursday an implant that can help treat dependence.
The Food and Drug Administration approved Probuphine, which is an implant intended to provide a low-level dose of the addiction treatment buprenorphine. The approval comes a few weeks after the House and Senate approved competing opioid bills.
Before approval of the drug, buprenorphine was only available as a pill or a film placed under the tongue.
The FDA said the pill or film could be lost, forgotten or stolen.
“However, as an implant, Probuphine provides a new treatment option for people in recovery,” the agency said.
The Senate and the House have passed bills seeking to expand access to buprenorphine, specifically taking on a limit on the amount of the drug that doctors can prescribe. The bills want to increase the ceiling past 200 prescriptions.
The House has appointed lawmakers to conference with the Senate to iron out any differences between the two packages.
