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| |  New Anesthetic First Development in Regional Anesthesia in Decades MISSISSAUGA, Ont., April 23, 1997 -- Health Canada has approved the first new local anesthetic in Canada in more than 20 years. Naropin(R) (ropivacaine hydrochloride), is manufactured by Astra Pharma Inc. Naropin is indicated for use as an analgesic to control pain post-operatively and during labour and delivery, and an anesthetic for major surgical procedures, such as Cesarean sections, orthopedic, abdominal and major nerve blocks. The product is available in two, five, seven and a half and 10 mg/mL concentrations. "Naropin is a highly versatile local anesthetic that can be used safely in higher doses as an anesthetic for surgery and in lower doses as an analgesic to relieve pain,'' says Dr. Desmond Writer, professor of anesthesia, Dalhousie University and staff anesthetist at the IWK-Grace Health Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, who studied the drug in obstetrical anesthesia prior to its approval. "Preliminary studies comparing Naropin with a traditional local anesthetic, bupivacaine, suggest Naropin will be a superior product for pain control in childbirth,'' says Dr. Writer. "When used in lower doses, it relieves labour pain effectively without restricting movement which may allow women greater mobility and better motor control during labour and delivery.'' A meta-analysis of data from several centres showed women who received Naropin had fewer instrumental deliveries than those who received bupivacaine. In addition, their babies appeared more alert 24 hours after delivery. Dr. Writer says these initial findings are very promising and additional research is needed to confirm the results. Dr. Writer and several other research teams conducted approximately 64 clinical trials involving more than 1860 patients using Naropin. Dr. Dennis Reid, chairman of the University of Ottawa department of anesthesia, head of the department of anesthesia, Ottawa General Hospital and a leading authority on regional anesthesia, says Naropin can be used in high doses for a variety of surgical procedures because of its enhanced safety profile. "Studies show Naropin is safe to use in high concentrations because it is less cardiotoxic than traditional local anesthetics,'' explains Dr. Reid. "When used in high doses, Naropin provides profound muscle relaxation, and a long duration of surgical anesthesia. This long duration of action, combined with Naropin's safety profile, enhances the product's utility, especially in areas where high doses of a long acting local anesthetic are needed but are not used currently.'' Dr. Reid says the recovery is much smoother for patients because Naropin can also provide up to 21 hours of pain relief after surgery thereby reducing the need for strong pain relief medications which may cause unpleasant side effects. Regional and general anesthesia are the two most common kinds of anesthesia. As with other local anesthetics, Naropin also offers patients advantages over general anesthesia such as reduced nausea and vomiting, prolonged duration of pain relief after surgery, greater and earlier mobility and shorter hospital stays. Based in Mississauga, Ontario, Astra Pharma Inc. manufactures innovative brand name prescription medications and is active in the development of treatments for a number of therapeutic areas including respiratory, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular diseases and pain control and the central nervous system.
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