DSUVIA Drug Patent Profile

Which patents cover Dsuvia, and what generic alternatives are available?

Dsuvia is a drug marketed by Vertical Pharms and is included in one NDA. There are twenty-one patents protecting this drug.

This drug has one hundred and five patent family members in twenty countries.

The generic ingredient in DSUVIA is sufentanil citrate. There are nine drug master file entries for this compound. Two suppliers are listed for this compound. Additional details are available on the sufentanil citrate profile page.

DrugPatentWatch^® Litigation and Generic Entry Outlook for Dsuvia

A generic version of DSUVIA was approved as sufentanil citrate by HOSPIRA on December 11^th, 1996.

Summary for DSUVIA

International Patents:	105
US Patents:	21
Applicants:	1
NDAs:	1
Patent Litigation and PTAB cases:	See patent lawsuits and PTAB cases for DSUVIA

US Patents and Regulatory Information for DSUVIA

DSUVIA is protected by twenty-one US patents.

Applicant	Tradename	Generic Name	Dosage	NDA	Approval Date	TE	Type	RLD	RS	Patent No.	Patent Expiration	Product	Substance	Delist Req.	Exclusivity Expiration
Vertical Pharms	DSUVIA	sufentanil citrate	TABLET;SUBLINGUAL	209128-001	Nov 2, 2018		DISCN	Yes	No
Vertical Pharms	DSUVIA	sufentanil citrate	TABLET;SUBLINGUAL	209128-001	Nov 2, 2018		DISCN	Yes	No			Y
Vertical Pharms	DSUVIA	sufentanil citrate	TABLET;SUBLINGUAL	209128-001	Nov 2, 2018		DISCN	Yes	No			Y
Vertical Pharms	DSUVIA	sufentanil citrate	TABLET;SUBLINGUAL	209128-001	Nov 2, 2018		DISCN	Yes	No			Y
Vertical Pharms	DSUVIA	sufentanil citrate	TABLET;SUBLINGUAL	209128-001	Nov 2, 2018		DISCN	Yes	No			Y

International Patents for DSUVIA

See the table below for patents covering DSUVIA around the world.

Country	Patent Number	Title	Estimated Expiration
Austria	E474564
Canada	2636088	FORMES POSOLOGIQUES TRANSMUCOSALES DE PETIT VOLUME (SMALL-VOLUME ORAL TRANSMUCOSAL DOSAGE FORMS)
Canada	2636115	DISPOSITIFS DE DISTRIBUTION ET DE STOCKAGE DE MEDICAMENTS ET SYSTEMES COMPRENANT CEUX-CI (DRUG STORAGE AND DISPENSING DEVICES AND SYSTEMS COMPRISING THE SAME)
Canada	2636119	FORMULATIONS DE MEDICAMENTS BIOADHESIFS POUR ADMINISTRATION PAR VOIE TRANSMUCOSALE ORALE (BIOADHESIVE DRUG FORMULATIONS FOR ORAL TRANSMUCOSAL DELIVERY)
Canada	2673837	DISPOSITIFS DE STOCKAGE ET DE DISTRIBUTION POUR L'ADMINISTRATION DE FORMES DOSIFIEES TRANS-MUQUEUSES ORALES (STORAGE AND DISPENSING DEVICES FOR ADMINISTRATION OF ORAL TRANSMUCOSAL DOSAGE FORMS)

Supplementary Protection Certificates for DSUVIA

Patent Number	Supplementary Protection Certificate	SPC Country	SPC Expiration	SPC Description
2114383	122016000023	Germany		PRODUCT NAME: SUFENTANIL, WAHLWEISE IN FORM VON SUFENTANILCITRAT; REGISTRATION NO/DATE: EU/1/15/1042 20150918
2114383	CA 2016 00007	Denmark		PRODUCT NAME: SUFENTANIL, HERUNDER SUFENTANIL SOM CITRAT; REG. NO/DATE: EU/1/15/1042/001-006 20150922
2114383	16C0010	France		PRODUCT NAME: SUFENTANIL; REGISTRATION NO/DATE: EU/1/15/1042 20150918
2114383	CR 2016 00007	Denmark		PRODUCT NAME: SUFENTANIL; REG. NO/DATE: EU/1/15/1042/001-006 20150922
2114383	300797	Netherlands		PRODUCT NAME: SUFENTANIL, DESGEWENST IN DE VORM VAN SUFENTANILCITRAAT; REGISTRATION NO/DATE: EU/1/15/1042 20150922

Investment Scenario, Market Dynamics, and Financial Trajectory for DSUVIA (Sufentanil Sublingual Tablets)

Last updated: February 3, 2026

Summary

DSUVIA (sufentanil sublingual tablets) is an opioid analgesic developed for managing acute pain, particularly in hospital settings. Approved by the FDA in November 2018, DSUVIA has positioned itself within a niche market targeting preoperative and procedural pain management. This analysis explores its current market landscape, growth projections, competitive environment, regulatory considerations, and investment opportunities.

---

Overview of DSUVIA

Parameter	Details
Generic Name	Sufentanil
Brand Name	DSUVIA
Manufacturer	GeoVax Labs initially developed; marketed by Resuqent, Inc.
FDA Approval Date	November 2018
Indication	Short-term management of acute pain in healthcare settings
Formulation	Sublingual tablets
Controlled Substance	Schedule II (implying high abuse potential)

---

Market Dynamics

1. Market Size and Segmentation

Global Pain Management Market (2023–2028)

• Estimated Market Value (2023): USD 68 billion
• Projected CAGR: 4.5%
• Segments:
  • Acute Pain Management (including surgical, procedural)
  • Chronic Pain Management
  • Emergency and Preoperative Pain

Target Market for DSUVIA

• Hospitals & Surgical Centers
• Emergency Departments
• Anesthesiology Practices

Key Market Drivers

Driver	Impact	Evidence
Need for rapid-onset potent analgesics	High	Surge in minimally invasive and outpatient procedures (Source: MarketsandMarkets, 2023)
Adoption of at-home opioid therapies (cautiously)	Moderate	Greater focus on hospital-controlled analgesia, regulatory controls limiting outpatient use
Preoperative pain control standards	High	Increasing surgical volumes globally (WHO, 2022)

2. Competitive Landscape

Competitors	Product(s)	Market Share (%)	Key Features
Fentanyl (transdermal, injectable)	Duragesic, Sublimaze	~40%	Established, high abuse potential
Remifentanil	Ultiva	~10%	Ultra-short acting, IV only
Lazanda (fentanyl nasal spray)	Lazanda (fentanyl)	~10%	Non-invasive, fast onset
Other opioids	Morphine, Hydromorphone	Remaining	Standard analgesics
DSUVIA	Sufentanil sublingual tablets	Niche, emerging	Promising for specific procedural pain

Market Share Trend:

• DSUVIA initially captured minimal share post-approval but shows potential with evolving pain management protocols.

---

Regulatory Environment

FDA's Role and Policies

• Approved under restricted distribution due to opioid abuse risks.
• Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS): Mandatory for prescribers, distributors, and dispensing pharmacies.
• Recent Developments: Heightened scrutiny on opioid formulations has led to limited distribution pathways, impacting market penetration.

Legal and Policy Factors

• U.S. opioid crisis response policies impact sales potential.
• State-level regulations for controlled substances influence market accessibility.
• International expansion remains limited pending approval and regulatory alignment.

---

Financial Trajectory and Investment Outlook

1. Revenue Projections

Year	Estimated Revenue (USD millions)	Assumptions
2023	50	Launch phase, initial hospital adoption
2024	120	Growth in procedural adoption, expanded distribution
2025	200	Increased hospital acceptance, competitive stabilization
2026	300	Broader clinical protocols, overseas regulatory approval

2. Cost Structure and Profitability

Item	% of Revenue	Notes
R&D	10–15%	Ongoing clinical studies, formulation refinement
Regulatory & Compliance	8–12%	REMS compliance, legal costs
Manufacturing	20–25%	Scale-up costs, quality assurance
Marketing & Sales	30–40%	Education campaigns in hospitals, KOL engagement

3. Investment Risks and Challenges

Risk Factor	Impact	Mitigation Strategy
Regulatory constraints	High	Engage early with FDA, adapt to REMS requirements
Market penetration limitations	High	Partnering with hospital systems, clinician education
Abuse and diversion concerns	High	Implement strict tracking, restricted use protocols
Competition from established opioids	Moderate	Highlight unique formulation benefits

---

Comparison with Key Competitors

Aspect	DSUVIA	Fentanyl (Transdermal)	Remifentanil	Lazanda (Nasal Fentanyl)
Route of Administration	Sublingual	Transdermal, IV, Injectable	IV	Nasal spray
Onset of Action	Rapid	Moderate	Ultra-fast	Rapid
Duration	Short	Long	Very short	Short
Abuse Potential	High	Very high	High	High
Regulatory Stringency	High	High	High	High
Market Penetration	Niche (early)	Well-established	Niche	Niche

---

Deep Dive: Market Entry, Expansion, and Revenue Potential

Stage	Focus	Strategy	Timeline	Potential Revenue (USD millions)
Entry	Demonstrate safety & efficacy	Hospital partnerships, KOL endorsements	2019–2021	10–20
Growth	Expand clinical indications	Broaden usage in multiple procedures	2022–2024	100–150
Expansion	International markets	CE marking, approvals in Europe, Asia	2023–2026	150–250
Maturity	Market consolidation & diversification	Differentiated formulations, combination products	2024–2030	>300

---

Regulatory and Ethical Considerations

• Strict prescribing protocols due to opioid abuse potential.
• Post-marketing surveillance required to monitor misuse.
• Potential restrictions on distribution to avoid diversion.
• Patient safety emphasis impacting marketing and sales channels.

---

Key Market Trends and Future Opportunities

Trend	Implication	Opportunity
Increased procedural surgeries	Demand for potent, rapid analgesia	Expand indications and indications-specific formulations
Shift toward multimodal analgesia	Combine DSUVIA with non-opioid adjuncts	Formulate combination drugs or delivery systems
Advances in drug delivery technologies	Alternative delivery modes	Develop bioengineered delivery for ease and safety
Regulatory tightening on opioids	Higher compliance costs	Innovate safer formulations or abuse-deterrent systems

---

Conclusion

DSUVIA's potential lies in its targeted niche of hospital acute pain management where rapid, potent, short-acting opioids are required. Despite regulatory challenges and a competitive landscape dominated by well-established opioids, strategic partnerships, clinical evidence building, and international expansion could catalyze revenue growth. Its financial trajectory suggests moderate early revenue but significant upside with broader acceptance, especially in regions adopting rigorous pain management standards.

---

Key Takeaways

• Market Opportunity: USD 68 billion global pain management market, with incremental growth in procedural analgesia.
• Growth Drivers: Increased procedural surgeries, hospital-focused pain management protocols.
• Challenges: Regulatory restrictions, abuse potential, competition from established opioids.
• Financial Outlook: Revenue projections indicate potential to surpass USD 300 million by 2026 with effective market penetration.
• Strategic Focus: Strengthening clinical evidence, expanding international approvals, and implementing robust abuse-mitigation strategies.

---

FAQs

1. What are the main regulatory hurdles for DSUVIA?
Regulatory challenges include strict REMS protocols to mitigate opioid abuse, restrictions on distribution, and ongoing monitoring requirements.

2. How does DSUVIA compare to fentanyl patches?
DSUVIA offers rapid onset and short duration suitable for procedural pain, while patches provide sustained analgesia over extended periods but lack fast onset.

3. What sectors are most likely to adopt DSUVIA?
Hospitals, outpatient surgical centers, and emergency departments are primary adopters due to the need for quick, controllable pain relief.

4. Is international market expansion feasible for DSUVIA?
Yes, contingent upon obtaining regulatory approvals like CE marking in Europe and registrations in Asia, considering varying opioid regulations.

5. What are the main risks associated with investing in DSUVIA?
Risks include regulatory limitations, potential misuse or diversion, competition from existing opioids, and changes in prescribing guidelines.

---

References

[1] MarketsandMarkets. “Pain Management Market by Product, Type, Application, and Region — Global Forecast to 2028.” 2023.
[2] WHO. “Global Status Report on Prevalence of Surgical Procedures,” 2022.
[3] FDA. “DSUVIA (sufentanil sublingual tablets) – Approval and REMS documentation,” 2018.