Last reviewed · How we verify
Buprenorphine transdermal patches
Buprenorphine is a partial mu-opioid receptor agonist that binds with high affinity to opioid receptors in the central nervous system to provide analgesia and reduce opioid cravings.
Buprenorphine is a partial mu-opioid receptor agonist that binds with high affinity to opioid receptors in the central nervous system to provide analgesia and reduce opioid cravings. Used for Chronic moderate to severe pain, Opioid use disorder (maintenance treatment).
At a glance
| Generic name | Buprenorphine transdermal patches |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Mundipharma (China) Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd |
| Drug class | Partial mu-opioid receptor agonist |
| Target | Mu-opioid receptor (μ-OR) |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Pain Management / Addiction Medicine |
| Phase | Phase 3 |
Mechanism of action
Buprenorphine's partial agonist activity at the mu-opioid receptor produces a ceiling effect on respiratory depression, making it safer than full opioid agonists. The transdermal patch formulation provides sustained drug delivery over several days, improving compliance and reducing fluctuations in plasma levels. This mechanism makes it suitable for both chronic pain management and opioid use disorder treatment.
Approved indications
- Chronic moderate to severe pain
- Opioid use disorder (maintenance treatment)
Common side effects
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Constipation
- Application site reactions
- Somnolence
- Vomiting
Key clinical trials
- ACTION: Trial of Adding Buprenorphine, CBT, and TMS to Improve Outcomes of Long-Term Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain (PHASE1, PHASE2)
- Transdermal Patch for BupRenorphine Induction DurinG PrEgnancy (Patch BRIDGE) (PHASE3)
- Buprenorphine as a Post-operative Analgesic in Opioid-Naive Patients After Ankle Fracture Surgery (PHASE4)
- An Exploratory Clinical Study of a Low-dose Buprenorphine Patch for the Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders (NA)
- Comparative Efficacy of Buprenorphine Transdermal Patch Versus Tramadol in Postoperative Analgesia for Shoulder Arthroscopy (PHASE4)
- Transdermal Buprenorphine Patch for Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (NA)
- Improved Pain Management in Knee Osteoarthritis-related Surgeries
- Butrans for Treatment of Restless Legs Syndrome (PHASE4)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape: