The FDA has approved Ketarx, a ketamine-based drug developed by drugmaker PharmaTher, for use in pain management.
The medication is now cleared by the FDA for clinical use in perioperative settings, marking a key development in the medical application of ketamine, according to an Aug. 11 news release from the drugmaker.
PharmaTher said it intends to develop more ketamine-based therapies for conditions including depression, Parkinson’s disease, ALS and chronic pain disorders such as complex regional pain syndrome.
The decision comes amid ongoing concerns about ketamine shortages in the U.S. and follows a 2023 alert from the FDA warning about risks of compounded ketamine formulations used for psychiatric treatment.
