The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on the 12th that it has granted item approval for Anapra (generic name: Opiranzeline), a non-narcotic pain reliever developed by Bicon Pharma.
Anapra is a non-narcotic analgesic that acts on multiple targets in the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system. It is used as a short-term treatment for managing severe acute pain after surgery. It is a new type of medication that differs from existing narcotic or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
According to Bicon Pharma, Anapra exerts its analgesic effects by simultaneously inhibiting the glycine transporter 2 and serotonin receptor 2A, which are directly involved in generating pain signals from pain receptors in the skin, muscles, ligaments, and joints.
The company applied for item approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in November of last year based on the results of domestic Phase 3 clinical trials for Anapra. It received approval after one year, becoming the 38th domestically produced new drug. The Ministry expects that this medication will expand the options for pain relief for adult patients experiencing severe pain after surgery.