How long does the Probuphine implant last?

Probuphine implant was discontinued by Titan Pharmaceuticals in October 2020 and no generic is available in the US. In former studies, roughly two-thirds of Probuphine-treated patients had no evidence of illicit opioid use throughout the six months of treatment – similar to the number of those who responded to sublingual (under the tongue) buprenorphine alone.

Contact the manufacturer for more information at 1-650-244-4990.

Other long-acting buprenorphine products for opioid use disorder exist in different dosage forms:

• Sublocade is an extended-release, once-monthly depot injection currently available from Indivior.
• Brixadi, from Braeburn, has been tentatively approved by the FDA, but is not yet available on the market. Brixadi is a long-acting, extended-release buprenorphine injection given either weekly or monthly for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD).

In May 2016 the FDA approved Probuphine (buprenorphine) implant for the maintenance treatment of opioid dependence. Probuphine consisted of four, one-inch-long rods that were implanted under the skin in the upper arm to provide a constant, low-level dose of buprenorphine for six months.

Probuphine was used as part of a complete opioid dependence treatment program including counseling and psychosocial support. Buprenorphine is classified as a opioid partial agonist.

Advantages to buprenorphine intradermal implants were a longer duration of action and improved patient compliance because there was no need to remember to take a daily medicine. In addition, other dose forms of buprenorphine, such sublingual pills or buccal films may be lost, forgotten or stolen.