NEW TREATMENT FOR HEROIN ADDICTION APPEARS
EFFECTIVE AND SAFER THAN INCREASING ABUSED METHADONE

NEW ROCHELLE, NY -- March 5, 2003
The abuse of methadone, which is used to treat heroin addiction, is on the
rise and is causing an alarming increase in overdoses and deaths [reported The New York Times (Feb. 9, 2003)]. With the high incidence of abuse, the recent introduction of an alternative drug, called buprenorphine, is perfectly timed. But will it really be a solution to the problems associated with methadone? Possibly,
according to The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics (Feb. 17, 2003), a leading provider of unbiased and comprehensive evaluations of new drugs. The Medical Letter reports that buprenorphine appears to be an effective alternative to methadone for both opioid detoxification and maintenance treatment for opioid
dependence. The drug also appears to be safer than methadone, with a lower risk of illicit use, but may not be effective for patients maintained on high doses of methadone.

"Buprenorphine represents a significant advance in our options for the treatment of addiction," said Gianna Zuccotti, M.D., M.P.H., Deputy Editor of The Medical
Letter. "It is an effective alternative to methadone, the long-valued treatment for drug addiction that has been limited somewhat by its potential for illicit use."

Buprenorphine, previously available for pain treatment through IV infusion, was approved for heroin addiction in a tablet form that can be prescribed by a doctor certified in addiction medicine or psychiatry. About 1,000 physicians have been certified to prescribe it (The Wall Street Journal, 2/20/03). Methadone, which
is primarily administered in clinics, is subject to more prescribing restrictions.

Made by Reckitt Benckiser PLC of Britain, buprenorphine has been FDA approved alone as Subutex and with naloxone as Suboxone. The use of naloxone, which reverses the effects of most opioids, is intended to discourage intravenous abuse of buprenorphine by opioid-dependent patients. Subutex is not yet
available.

The Medical Letter predicts that buprenorphine's availability for office-based treatment should make it more accessible than methadone, but its high cost may be a deterrent. According to the manufacturer, Suboxone 16 mg/day costs $287.50 for a month's supply, compared to less than $30 for a month's supply of methadone at usual doses.

About The Medical Letter
The Medical Letter Inc., a nonprofit organization founded in 1958, offers health care professionals objective, independent analysis of new drugs. In addition to its biweekly newsletter, The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics, it also publishes handbooks and software on topics such as adverse drug interactions and antimicrobial therapy. The Medical Letter is supported entirely by subscriber fees and is based in New Rochelle, NY. For more information about The Medical Letter call (800) 211-2769 or visit their Web site at www.medicalletter.org.