Arius Pharmaceuticals

Arius Pharmaceuticals was a specialty pharmaceutical company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Acura Pharmaceuticals (formerly Halsey Drug). The company focused on the development and commercialization of proprietary abuse-deterrent technologies designed to prevent the misuse of prescription drugs, particularly opioid analgesics. Its lead platform, Aversion Technology, incorporated multiple layers of defense, including gelling agents and irritants, to discourage snorting or injection of crushed tablets. The company's efforts led to the development of Oxaydo (oxycodone HCl), the first approved immediate-release oxycodone with abuse-deterrent labeling. Arius was eventually fully integrated into the operations of its parent company, Acura Pharmaceuticals.