Back to Explorer

Development of Non-Opioid Analgesics for Chronic Pain: Draft Guidance for Industry

DraftCenter for Drug Evaluation and Research09/10/2025

Description

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing the availability of a draft guidance for industry entitled “Development of Non-Opioid Analgesics for Chronic Pain.” This guidance is intended to assist sponsors in the development of non-opioid analgesics for the treatment of chronic pain. It describes FDA’s current recommendations regarding phase 3 trials for prescription non-opioid analgesic products being developed to treat chronic pain. This guidance also responds to the statutory requirements of the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities (SUPPORT) Act, which directs FDA to issue or update existing guidance to help address challenges to developing non-opioid medical products to treat pain.

Scope & Applicability

Product Classes

3
Non-Opioid Analgesics

Development of non-opioid analgesics for the treatment of chronic pain.; facilitating development of non-opioid analgesics can help address the need for more analgesic treatment options; Development of non-opioid analgesics for chronic pain

Non-opioid analgesic products

FDA remains interested in feedback on ways in which these data could be useful to support the approval of non-opioid analgesic products.

Non-Opioid Analgesic

products being developed for chronic pain

Stakeholders

2
Sponsor

Entity responsible for submitting applications under section 524B

Geriatric Participants

population that should not be routinely excluded from trials

Regulatory Context

Attributes

4
Mechanism of Action

How the product achieves its intended purpose.

Group-Specific Indication

indication reflecting drug action on a mechanism shared across pain conditions

General Chronic Pain Indication

broadest indication reflecting effectiveness for all chronic pain conditions

Assay Sensitivity

confidence that the active control provides the expected extent of analgesic effect

Identified Hazards

Hazards

2
Abuse and Misuse Potential

clinical development program must also establish the safety of the product... including a thorough assessment of abuse and misuse potential

Opioid Withdrawal

Risk during down-titration of opioid regimen

Related CFR Sections (3)

See Also (8)