Liquidia Technologies touted initial data from its LIQ865 Phase I trial, which evaluated its sustained-delivery formulation of bupivacaine for post-surgical pain relief.

The trial was the 1st evaluation of the company’s formulation in humans. Researchers assessed the safety, pharmacokinetic profile and pharmacodynamic response of a single-ascending dose in healthy adult males.

Initial data showed that the pharmacodynamic response was consistent with local pain-relief lasting for at least 3 days, Liquidia reported. The doses of LIQ865 were well tolerated among the patient population.

“According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a component of the National Institutes of Health, 2.1 million people in the United States suffer from substance use disorders related to prescription opioid pain relievers, many of whom began taking opioids as post-surgical patients,” Dr. Mike Royal, senior VP of clinical development, said in prepared remarks. “Our intent with LIQ865 is to increase the options for long-lasting, safe, effective post-operative pain relief that can reduce the need for opioids in the early days following surgery.”

“The Phase I clinical trial results for LIQ865 further validate the remarkably broad applicability of the PRINT technology across virtually any therapeutic area,” CEO Neal Fowler added. “We look forward to providing additional updates on our PRINT technology-enabled clinical programs throughout 2017.”