A New Patch for Post-Shingles Pain

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new drug to treat pain that follows shingles infections.

This new approval is for ZTlido (lidocaine topical system). The FDA approved it to relieve the pain from damaged nerves (neuropathic pain) that follows shingles, also known as post-herpetic neuralgia. Shingles is an infection that often results in a painful rash. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox.

ZTlido is a topical patch containing lidocaine, which is a local anesthetic (pain reliever). ZTlido is applied once a day to the most painful area. It may be left on the skin for a maximum of 12 hours in a 24-hour period.

ZTlido uses new adhesion technology that makes it less likely to fall off of the skin.

“ZTlido was designed to solve a problem that is commonly reported with transdermal/topical patches: they don’t stay on,” said Dr. Henry Ji, chairman and CEO of Sorrento Therapeutics and Scilex, in a press release.

ZTlido is to be applied only to skin that is not cut, scraped, burned or irritated. It may be left on the skin during exercise but shouldn't be worn while swimming or bathing. Common side effects of ZTlido included application-site reactions, such as irritation, redness, itching, and peeling or flaking of the skin.

The FDA approved ZTlido for Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.