But as of now, abuse resistant mechanisms only apply to OxyContin-like slow release painkillers, and do not apply to short-acting analgesics, which are the most widely abused painkillers.
Professor Peter Selby, director of clinical studies at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, said that the research added to the debate on cancer and analgesics - but did not represent the last word.
In addition to this, its consumer healthcare business saw substantial growth in the U.S driven by the sales of analgesics and upper respiratory products due to a reliable supply chain and a strong flu season.