From WisPolitics.com/WisBusiness.com …
— Synthetic opioids such as fentanyl continue to drive drug overdose rates in Wisconsin, even as the state is seeing more overdoses involving multiple substances.
That’s according to a recent state Department of Administration report to the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee, detailing the current state of opioid and methamphetamine use in Wisconsin.
While the number of drug overdose deaths in the state declined slightly from 1,830 in 2022 to 1,800 in 2023, 80% of the deaths in 2023 involved opioids. That includes heroin, the prescription drug oxycodone and fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that’s used in the medical field to treat severe pain.
The report notes more than 90% of the opioid overdose deaths in Wisconsin in 2023 involved synthetic opioids, underlining the role that fentanyl is playing in the ongoing opioid epidemic. It also highlights a rise in overdose deaths linked to multiple substances, usually a mix of opioids and stimulants such as cocaine or meth.
“This is notable because while opioid overdoses are significantly more common than stimulant overdoses, rates of overdose involving both substances continue to grow faster than those involving either drug alone,” authors wrote.
The overall number of opioid overdose deaths was slightly lower in 2023 at 1,413, compared to 1,464 in 2022, more than half included cocaine or a “psychostimulant.” While this second category — which includes meth — is more common in the state’s northern and western regions, cocaine is far more likely to be used alongside opioids in southeastern Wisconsin.
DOA also notes the opioid epidemic is hitting some demographics harder than others, as Black and American Indian residents of the state have higher rates of fatal opioid overdoses.
In 2023, the rate of fatal overdoses per 100,000 population was 119.6 for Black men and 39.2 for Black women, 87.2 for American Indian men and 62.8 for American Indian women. That number was 27.3 for white men and 12.7 for white women, the report shows.
For Pacific Islanders, the rate was 51.4 for men and 57.4 for women — the only group for which the fatal overdose rate among women was higher than for men. Asian Wisconsinites had the lowest rates, with 7.3 for men and 3 for women.
See the report.
— A Madison-based biotech firm called Invenra has formed a research agreement with Orion Corporation aimed at creating new cancer drugs.
The company recently announced the agreement, which will leverage Invenra’s B-Body drug development platform to target new “bispecific antibodies.” These engineered proteins are meant to target two cells or molecules at the same time to achieve a therapeutic effect.
Invenra CEO Roland Green touts the “strength and versatility” of the platform.
“We are thrilled to work with Orion, a company that shares our commitment to delivering innovative therapies that address critical unmet medical needs,” Green said in a statement.
Orion, a pharmaceutical business headquartered in Finland, will select targets and will be “solely responsible” for developing, manufacturing and commercializing the drug candidates, the release shows.
Antti Haapalinna, vice president and head of external science and partnering R&D for Orion, calls the agreement an “important step” in the company’s effort to expand its portfolio in bispecific antibodies.
“Invenra’s cutting-edge bispecific discovery platform, combined with Orion’s expertise in development and commercialization, will accelerate the creation of impactful new therapies for patients worldwide,” Haapalinna said.
See the release below and listen to a recent WisBusiness.com podcast with Invenra.
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