fentanyl + CHADD (ZARS Pharmaceuticals)

The fentanyl + CHADD system is a drug-device combination developed by ZARS Pharma (later acquired by Nuvo Pharmaceuticals) for the treatment of breakthrough pain in patients with chronic pain. It consists of a matrix transdermal fentanyl patch (ZR-02-01) and the Controlled Heat-Assisted Drug Delivery (CHADD) technology. The CHADD component is a patch that generates controlled heat through an oxidation reaction when exposed to air. When applied over the fentanyl patch, the heat increases local skin temperature and blood flow, which significantly accelerates the transdermal flux and systemic absorption of fentanyl. This mechanism is intended to provide a rapid onset of analgesia to manage breakthrough pain episodes without the need for supplemental oral opioids, while the base patch provides continuous delivery for background chronic pain.

Other names

Matrix Transdermal Fentanyl/CHADD Drug Delivery SystemHeat-Assisted Fentanyl PatchControlled Heat-Assisted Drug Delivery Fentanyl System