Nutriband Announces Board Appointments and Progress on AVERSA Fentanyl Abuse-Deterrent Patch

Nutriband Inc. provided shareholders with an update following its 2026 Annual Shareholders Meeting held Jan. 24, 2026, in Orlando, Florida, highlighting the appointment of two new directors, Alessandro Puddu and Viorica Carlig, and outlining key progress in the development of AVERSA Fentanyl. During 2025, the company strengthened its exclusive partnership with Kindeva, completed commercial manufacturing scale-up, expanded global patent protection including new U.S. and Macao patents, engaged with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration through a Type C meeting, and advanced branding initiatives for AVERSA Fentanyl. Looking ahead to 2026, Nutriband plans to advance toward an NDA filing by extending patent protection potentially to 2046, manufacturing clinical supplies, filing an Investigational New Drug application, and initiating a Human Abuse Liability clinical study.

The company's lead product under development is an abuse-deterrent fentanyl patch incorporating its AVERSA abuse-deterrent technology, which can be incorporated into any transdermal patch to prevent the abuse, misuse, diversion, and accidental exposure of drugs with abuse potential. This development matters because fentanyl abuse represents a critical public health crisis, with transdermal patches being particularly vulnerable to misuse through extraction and injection. The AVERSA technology aims to address this vulnerability by making extraction difficult, potentially reducing overdose deaths and diversion of prescription opioids.

Nutriband's progress in 2025 included strengthening its exclusive partnership with Kindeva, a move that supports manufacturing capabilities for the abuse-deterrent patch. The completion of commercial manufacturing scale-up represents a crucial step toward potential commercialization, while expanded global patent protection, including new U.S. and Macao patents, helps secure the company's intellectual property rights. Engagement with the FDA through a Type C meeting indicates regulatory dialogue is advancing, which is essential for navigating the approval pathway for this novel abuse-deterrent formulation.

The implications of these developments extend beyond Nutriband's corporate milestones to broader public health considerations. If successful, AVERSA Fentanyl could offer a safer alternative to existing fentanyl patches, potentially reducing the risk of abuse and accidental exposure in clinical and community settings. The planned 2026 activities, including extending patent protection potentially to 2046, manufacturing clinical supplies, filing an Investigational New Drug application, and initiating a Human Abuse Liability study, are critical steps toward regulatory submission and eventual market availability. These efforts align with ongoing public health initiatives to address the opioid crisis through technological innovations that deter abuse while maintaining therapeutic efficacy for patients with severe pain.