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Sublingual Buprenorphine (SLB)
Buprenorphine is a partial mu-opioid receptor agonist that binds with high affinity to opioid receptors in the brain, reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms while producing a ceiling effect on respiratory depression.
Buprenorphine is a partial mu-opioid receptor agonist that binds with high affinity to opioid receptors in the brain, reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms while producing a ceiling effect on respiratory depression. Used for Opioid use disorder maintenance treatment, Moderate to severe pain management.
At a glance
| Generic name | Sublingual Buprenorphine (SLB) |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | NYU Langone Health |
| Drug class | Partial mu-opioid receptor agonist |
| Target | Mu-opioid receptor (μ-OR) |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Addiction Medicine / Pain Management |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Buprenorphine's partial agonist activity at the mu-opioid receptor produces analgesia and reduces opioid withdrawal symptoms with lower abuse potential than full agonists. The sublingual formulation allows rapid absorption through oral mucosa, bypassing first-pass metabolism. Its high receptor binding affinity and ceiling effect on respiratory depression make it safer than full opioid agonists in overdose scenarios.
Approved indications
- Opioid use disorder maintenance treatment
- Moderate to severe pain management
Common side effects
- Headache
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Sweating
- Insomnia
- Withdrawal symptoms (if discontinued abruptly)
Key clinical trials
- Assessing Optimal XRB Initiation Points in Jail (PHASE4)
- XRB vs. SLB in Jail and at Re-entry: Pilot, Proof of Concept (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:
- Sublingual Buprenorphine (SLB) CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Sublingual Buprenorphine (SLB) updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- NYU Langone Health portfolio CI