Naloxegol IS the Generic Name
Naloxegol is already the generic (chemical) name for the medication marketed under the brand name Movantik. 1
Key Nomenclature Details
- Generic name: Naloxegol (specifically naloxegol oxalate as the active pharmaceutical ingredient) 1
- Brand name: Movantik 1
- Chemical structure: Naloxegol is a PEGylated derivative of naloxone, meaning it is naloxone with polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains attached 2, 1
- Previous research designation: NKTR-118 (used during clinical development) 3, 4
Pharmaceutical Formulation
The commercially available tablets contain naloxegol oxalate salt, with dosing expressed as the free base equivalent 1:
- 12.5 mg tablets contain 14.2 mg naloxegol oxalate 1
- 25 mg tablets contain 28.5 mg naloxegol oxalate 1
Clinical Context
Naloxegol functions as a peripherally acting μ-opioid receptor antagonist (PAMORA) approved by the FDA in 2014 for treatment of opioid-induced constipation in adults with chronic non-cancer pain 2. The pegylation modification limits blood-brain barrier penetration while maintaining peripheral opioid receptor antagonism in the gastrointestinal tract 2, 1, 5.