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LAS VEGAS — Kenvue will present findings about osteoarthritis treatment trends, along with an expert talk on managing pain in patients living with this condition, at PAINWeek Conference 2024, September 3-6 at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
Through two abstracts and a recently published paper, Kenvue will shed light on prescription patterns, patient preferences and the efficacy of Tylenol in treating osteoarthritis pain. A sponsored Expert Opinion Live talk will be given by Susan Pendergrass, a family nurse practitioner with a sub-specialty in pain management and an educator for Florida’s Nassau County Department of Health.
“We’re excited to join experts from across medicine and industry at PAINWeek, where Kenvue will share new data supporting the use of acetaminophen to treat osteoarthritis pain and clarifying the suitability and prevalence of other over-the-counter (OTC) solutions in this population,” said Michelle Bateson*, Vice President of Global Self Care Research and Development at Kenvue. “Our findings and expert insights will help medical teams guide their patients in creating safe and effective everyday care plans with the power to address pain, stiffness and restricted movement.”
Considering the Data
“Preferences and Experiences of Over-the-Counter Analgesics for Osteoarthritis Signs and Symptoms,” conducted by Kerstin Wagner*, Ph.D., Director of Global Scientific Engagement at Kenvue, and colleagues (P-082)
As osteoarthritis treatment varies widely and is often personalized based on patient preferences, researchers surveyed 1,005 adults about their over-the-counter (OTC) treatment choices for managing the pain caused by mild to moderate disease.
They found patients favored medications that work within 15 minutes, address multiple symptoms, cost less than $10 and are taken just once or twice a day. Over 73% used multiple drugs, most often oral acetaminophen or ibuprofen along with topical diclofenac. This is the first time Kenvue has validated these findings through robust, scientific methods.
“Treating Osteoarthritis Pain: How Effective Are Immediate- and Extended-Release Acetaminophen Products?” conducted by James A. McGuire*, MS, Director of Global Biostatistics at Kenvue, and colleagues (P-110)
Researchers shared two previously unpublished studies that contributed to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s 2008 approval of extended-release acetaminophen 650 mg for mild to moderate osteoarthritis hip or knee pain and compared them to three more recent studies. All the randomized home-use studies, which assessed the safety and efficacy of 3900 mg or 4000 mg immediate- or extended-release treatment in 856 participants over four weeks, were conducted between 1993 and 2004.
Patients across all five studies reported reductions in pain and improvements in stiffness and physical function, with the most commonly reported side effects including headache and abdominal pain.
Abstract posters will be displayed in the Exhibit Hall beginning on Wednesday, September 4, at 10:30am PST.
These two new abstracts add to new Kenvue data published in Drugs & Aging earlier this year. In that paper, “Patterns of Comorbidities and Prescribing and Dispensing of Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) Among Patients with Osteoarthritis in the USA: Real-World Study,” researchers considered the frequency of NSAID use in patients with both osteoarthritis and comorbidities, as medications such as aspirin and ibuprofen can increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, heart failure, edema and hypertension. They found that nearly half of people with osteoarthritis had at least one comorbidity, most commonly cardiovascular disease, and that among that group, NSAID use ranged between 33% and 46.2%. As a result, the researchers called for informed decision-making by doctors and patients living with osteoarthritis pain.
Attending the Talk
Pendergrass will present session EOL-01, “Revisiting Individualized Assessment and Management of OA in the Post-COVID-19 Era,” in the Exhibit Hall on Sept. 4 from 3 to 3:30pm PST.
Her program will focus on a variety of pain-relief treatments, including OTC formulations, and the importance of patient education about these options.
