The FDA has issued its approval on a new constipation drug from Nektrar Pharma and AstraZeneca. The new drug, called Movantik (naloxegol), is aimed at reducing the constipation associated with opioid pain killers without reducing the central pain killing effects.
It is the first drug in its class approved by the FDA and is likely to hit the market two to three years before any competing drugs from other drug makers. Movantik was approaching the final stages of approval over the summer when the FDA deemed it worthy to move forward without a large scale cardiovascular risk trial.
Roth Capital Partners analyst Debjit Chattopadhyay spoke on the approval, noting that it could be big ticket item for the two drug firms, as they both have deep marketing budgets and the drug is taken orally.
"If you look at the way they structured the deal with Nektar, clearly they think this is a multi-billion dollar drug," he said.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.