This pilot study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of the buprenorphine transdermal system versus placebo on health outcomes in elderly residents in supervised living environments. The treatment intervention duration is 42 days during which time supplemental analgesic medication (usual analgesic care) will be provided to all subjects in addition to study drug.

Buprenorphine is a synthetic opioid analgesic with over twenty-five years of international clinical experience indicating it to be safe and effective in a variety of therapeutic situations for the relief of moderate to severe pain. Transdermal systems may offer advantages over currently indicated oral products including ease and convenience of use, improved compliance, possible reduction in patient care, and prolonged and consistent delivery of drug.

Inclusion Criteria:

• residing in a nursing home, assisted living environment, or any type of supervised living situation in which the principal investigator maintained primary responsibility for the analgesic management of the resident.
• chronic pain of musculoskeletal origin who had been managed with short-acting opioids.

Exclusion Criteria:

• taking >90 mg oral morphine sulfate per day (during any single day) or >50 mcg/hr of transdermal fentanyl or its equivalent.
• activity restricted totally to bed rest.
• have cancer-related pain.

Other protocol-specific exclusion/inclusion criteria may apply.