There is an urgent unmet medical need for a safe, effective, nonopioid analgesic agent for postoperative pain control.

This first-in-man study was designed to explore a data-informed, model-based candidate dosage regimen and safety of a novel formulation of ketorolac tromethamine (NTM-001) delivered as a 12.5-mg intravenous (IV) bolus followed immediately by 3.5 mg/h continuous infusion over 24 h compared versus IV bolus dosing of 30 mg generic ketorolac every 6 h. The study evaluated pharmacokinetic parameters and safety profiles based on a targeted product profile. A graphical overlay method and model-based comparisons were used to assess the concentration–time curve.

Healthy adults (n = 28, 50% men) received NTM-001 and bolus dosing in an open-label crossover design. Observed plasma concentrations were tightly aligned with predicted values with no outliers. Graphical overlay comparisons showed low between-subject variability and agreed with forecasted concentration–time targets. The pharmacokinetic (PK) base models fit with preliminary PK data from both the NTM-001 and bolus groups with model fit median profiles within 95% prediction limits and no updating of the models. Consistent with serum concentration–time profiles, pain relief scores fell within predicted limits, with initial pain relief scores of NTM-001 slightly above the target profile, likely because the initial serum ketorolac concentrations were somewhat higher than predicted. The 24-h pain relief predicted for NTM-001 based on the area under the median ketorolac pain relief versus time curve was about 6% below that of the pain relief target. Both treatments were well tolerated and no subject withdrew because of adverse events.

The PK parameters for NTM-001 and comparator bolus were similar to the modeling targets with no updating of the base model. There were no outliers and little intersubject variability. NTM-001 delivered as a bolus of 12.5 mg IV followed immediately by continuous infusion of 3.5 mg/h using a standard hospital infusion pump may offer an alternative to opioids for acute postoperative pain control.