According to recent surveys, one in five persons are estimated to suffer from chronic pain, which is a greater number than people living with diabetes, heart diseases or cancer. Pain has a detrimental impact on health and quality of life and places a significant burden on the patient, relatives, the economy and society as a whole [1]. Pain has complex underlying mechanisms and is often most effectively treated with a combination of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Topical treatment alleviates pain at its source while reducing systemic side effects.
A recent randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study compared treatment with a combination of multiple APIs in Versatile™ to Versatile™ alone in patients with peripheral neuropathy[2]. Versatile™ is a highly elegant vanishing cream, designed to retain its consistency with a broad variety of APIs and solvents in high concentrations, making it very suitable for simultaneous application of multiple APIs. A significant reduction in pain scores was observed with active treatment versus placebo. Notably, a significantly greater improvement in walking ability and performance of normal work was also observed. No serious treatment-related adverse events were observed during the study. Topical treatment with a combination of APIs in Versatile™ provided pain relief and enhanced physical function and quality of life.
[1] The painful truth survey. State of pain management in Europe. Boston Scientific Corporation; 2013.
[2] Reyzelman AM, Vartivarian M, Bazarov I, Horne B. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of a topical analgesic cream for the treatment of neuropathic pain. The Pain Practitioner. 2014; 24(3):5-15.
