Issue Date: May 13, 2026
Issued by: Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
Topic(s): Clinical – Medical
Status: Draft
Development of Non-Opioid Analgesics for Acute Pain
This guidance is written in response to the statutory requirements of section 3001(b) of the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act, which directs the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue or update existing guidance to help address challenges to developing nonaddictive medical products to manage pain. In keeping with the mandate of section 3001(b), and considering the severity of the ongoing opioid crisis, this guidance is also intended to assist sponsors in the development of alternatives to opioids for the management of acute pain. Accordingly, this guidance addresses FDA’s current thinking about three specific topics: development of non-opioid analgesic products for acute pain, labeling claims, and expedited programs as they pertain to this purpose.
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