The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BTDS compared to placebo in subjects with moderate to severe osteoarthritic pain of the hip or knee.

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of buprenorphine transdermal system (BTDS) compared to placebo in subjects with moderate to severe osteoarthritic pain of the hip or knee who have a sub-optimal response to their non-opioid analgesic treatment and require opioid analgesics for pain control.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Males or females ages 40 years or older.
• Clinical diagnosis of osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip or knee.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects who have a current or past history of chronic disease(s), in addition to OA, requiring frequent analgesic therapy (e.g. headache, fibromyalgia, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, low back pain, and diabetic neuropathy).