De aandelen van NeurogesX, de producent van deze nieuwe capsaicine pleister, stegen door het plafond. Afgelopen maandag, zo luidt een press release van 17 november 2009, heeft de FDA de pleister Qutenza® toegelaten voor de indicatie postherpetische neuralgie, oftewel herpes zoster pijn, oftewel gordelroos. Deze lastig te behandelen pijn reageert dus goed op capsaicine.  In Europa was de toelating iets eerder, in mei, en voor pijnlijke neuropathie. Hier de press release:

Qutenza ®

For biopharmaceutical company NeurogesX's, lead product, Qutenza, it was a pain-free passage through regulators as the prescription patch won the FDA approval Monday for reduction of postherpetic neuralgia. PHN or postherpetic neuralgia is a chronic painful condition that develops in certain patients following a herpes zoster (shingles) outbreak.

Qutenza becomes the first and only prescription strength treatment with capsaicin, the "hot ingredient in chili peppers". According to NeurogesX, Qutenza can provide 3 months of pain reduction from a single one hour treatment for post-shingles pain. The product is expected to be launched by NeurogesX in the U.S. in the first half of 2010. Qutenza has orphan drug designation for the management of neuropathic pain in patients with PHN.

Qutenza® voor gordelroos

The treatment of postherpetic neuralgia, or PHN, continues to represent a significant unmet need. According to market research firm Decision Resources, the neuropathic pain drug market will increase from $6 billion in 2008 to $9.7 billion in 2018 in the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and Japan. Qutenza is estimated to fetch sales of nearly $700 million in 2018.

Qutenza also carries a fast-track designation for treatment of HIV-DSP (HIV-distal sensory polyneuropathy). The dermal patch has successfully completed one late-stage study in painful HIV-DSP.

Qutenza® in Europa

In May, the European regulators approved Qutenza to treat peripheral neuropathic pain in non-diabetic adults. On June 22, NeurogesX entered into a commercialization agreement for Qutenza with Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd., the European subsidiary of Tokyo based Astellas Pharma Inc. The dermal patch is expected to be launched in the European Union in 2010.

Qutenza® en de bijwerking: stekende lokale pijn 

De president van de company die Quetenza ontwikkelde aan het woord over de pleister en de wijze van gebruik:

Omdat er veel capsaicine in de Quetenza pleister zit, 8%, steekt het nogal. Om succes te hebben moet je voor het opbrengen eerst de huid verdoven, zo vertelt de president in de video hierboven. 

November 2009: prof.dr. Jan M. Keppel Hesselink, arts-farmacoloog