diamorphine (Therakind)

Ayendi is an intranasal formulation of diamorphine (heroin) developed by Therakind for the management of acute severe pain in children and adolescents in a hospital setting. It is designed as a non-invasive alternative to traditional parenteral (intravenous or intramuscular) opioid administration, which can be distressing for pediatric patients. Diamorphine acts as a potent mu-opioid receptor agonist; upon administration, it is rapidly metabolized into active metabolites, including 6-monoacetylmorphine and morphine, which bind to opioid receptors in the central nervous system to produce rapid analgesia. The product was approved by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in 2017 and is marketed in partnership with Wockhardt.

Brand names

Ayendi

Other names

diamorphine hydrochlorideheroindiamorphine nasal liquid