Monthly Versus Daily Buprenorphine Formulations for Treatment of Opiate Use Disorder

Summary

Opioid use disorder and opioid-related deaths are increasing across Canada. The mainstay of medical treatment includes either full (methadone) or partial (buprenorphine) opioid agonist therapy. In Canada, there are 2 buprenorphine formulations, an immediate-release (Suboxone) and extended-release(Sublocade). These treatments have been shown to be equivalent for medication adherence and treatment retention. However, Sublocade costs 8-times more, and 50% of patients must pay out-of-pocket if they prefer this treatment option. This study is needed to demonstrate the superior benefits of Sublocade on important clinical outcomes to demonstrate its cost-effectiveness and justify expanded insured access across Canada.

Timeline

Start

2022-12

Primary completion

2023-12

Completion

2024-12

Publications

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Indications