Safety of the Buprenorphine Transdermal Delivery System in Subjects With Mod-to-Sev Pain Following Orthopedic Surgery.

A Single Dose, Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel Group Study of the Safety and Pharmacokinetics of Buprenorphine TDS (12.5, 25, 50 Mcg/Hour) Vs. Placebo in Patients With Moderate to Severe Pain Following Orthopedic Surgery

The objective of this study is to assess the safety of the buprenorphine transdermal system (5, 10, and 20 mg) in comparison to placebo transdermal system in subjects with moderate to severe pain after orthopedic surgery. The double-blind treatment intervention duration is 72 hours during which time supplemental analgesic medication (intravenous morphine PCA) 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:

• underwent any major orthopedic surgical procedure requiring general anesthesia, and were expected to be hospitalized >/=4 days postoperatively.
• in moderate or greater pain post-recovery from anesthesia and were expected to be in, or greater than, moderate pain, without analgesics, for >/=4 days post-surgery.

Exclusion Criteria:

• receiving chronic opioid therapy preoperatively for >1 month that was at a total daily dose of >/= 60 mg of oral morphine equivalents.
• have significant concurrent pulmonary conditions.

Other protocol-specific exclusion/inclusion criteria may apply.