Buprenorphine Safer for Managing Cancer Pain, but Access Problematic

Originally published by our sister publication Specialty Pharmacy ContinuumBy Susan KreimerBuprenorphine is the safest opioid for managing cancer-related pain, but patients often can’t access it due to insurance denials, according to a Viewpoint article in JAMA Oncology (2025 Jun 5. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2025.1337).The authors called for buprenorphine’s use as a pain medication of choice for patients with cancer in need of opioid therapies. Clinicians primarily prescribe fentanyl, mo