FDA approves King's 'abuse-resistant' painkiller

Shares of King Pharmaceuticals surged on the news that the FDA has approved Embeda, a new painkiller that's designed to limit abuse by people looking for a quick high. King researchers added an ingredient to Embeda that is supposed to interfere with the body's absorption of morphine when the therapy is abused. But there's a catch: Neither the FDA nor King say that there's convincing data that shows the painkiller actually works in frustrating morphine abuse. King is one of several developers working to develop new painkillers that thwart addicts. Conclusive data that one of the therapies can actually prevent abuse is likely to be rewarded with a big share of the market. Report