Astrazeneca Share News (AZN)

Astrazeneca shares strained higher on Friday after the company received positive feedback for Moventig, its new treatment for opioid-induced constipation.The committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency said it had formed a positive opinion on the drug, which has been designed for patients with an inadequate response to laxatives.The group explained that opioid painkillers often causes constitpation because the sustance that works on the central nervous system also affects the gastrointestinal tract."The positive opinion was reached after a review of comprehensive data from the KODIAC clinical programme comprised of four studies assessing the safety and efficacy of Moventig," the FTSE 100 group said.The committee's decision will now be considered by the European Commission, which has the authority to approve medicines for the European Union. The final decision will apply to all 28 EU member countries, as well as Iceland and Norway.