Ibuprofen injection exhibits kidney safety with cost benefits over ketorolac: Study

Cumberland Pharmaceuticals announced the publication of a new study demonstrating the safety advantages and cost-saving potential of its Caldolor (ibuprofen) injection when compared to ketorolac in both adult and pediatric patients. The research was published in Frontiers in Pain Research presented real-world outcomes that show Caldolor significantly reduces adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) offered a promising alternative to ketorolac for pain management.

The retrospective analysis of over 17 million patient records compared the outcomes of patients who received either Caldolor or ketorolac. A total of 31,046 adult patients who received Caldolor were matched against 1,24,184 adults who were administered ketorolac. An additional 5,579 pediatric patients were analyzed in separate comparisons. The primary endpoints were the rates of adverse drug reactions and the subsequent healthcare resource utilization which included emergency department visits, inpatient admissions, outpatient visits and medical procedures.

The key findings of the study revealed that in adults, Caldolor was associated with a 45% reduction in renal dysfunction and a 78% decrease in hematuria when compared to ketorolac. These results were statistically significant (p<0.001). Further, fewer gastrointestinal complications and reduced occurrences of common side effects such as headaches, nausea, and abdominal pain were observed in patients using Caldolor. For pediatric patients, Caldolor demonstrated a 51-65% lower rate of ADRs, including a decrease in headaches and nausea, with results supporting clinical significance.

In addition, Caldolor was also linked to a reduction in healthcare costs. The study found that adults and children treated with Caldolor experienced fewer emergency room visits, reduced outpatient consultations and shorter hospital stays when compared to the ones treated with ketorolac. This suggests that Caldolor could contribute to lower overall healthcare expenditures by minimizing complications and the need for additional treatments.

The study confirms the potential of Caldolor to improve patient outcomes while also offering significant cost savings for healthcare systems, added A.J. Kazimi, the CEO of Cumberland Pharmaceuticals. Overall, Caldolor was the first FDA-approved intravenous therapy for fever and is indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate pain, as well as moderate to severe pain in combination with opioid analgesics. It is also used to reduce fever in both adults and pediatric patients.

Source:

Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc. (2024, November 5). New Study Compares Caldolor® (ibuprofen injection) to ketorolac. PR Newswire. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-study-compares-caldolor-ibuprofen-injection-to-ketorolac-302296908.html