A New Zealand clinical trial comparing forms of oral pain relief after wisdom teeth removal has been published in the top-ranked British Journal of Anaesthesia.

The clinical trial, carried out at Auckland Hospital between 2005 and 2008, compared a combined dosage of Paracetamol and Ibuprofen with each pain reliever alone, to determine the most effective drug for treating postoperative pain.

Alan Merry, Professor of Anaesthesiology at The University of Auckland and lead investigator for the trial says the British Journal of Anaesthesia is the highest rated UK medical journal and is widely read.

The journal, published by Oxford University Press, carries articles on neurosciences and neuroanaesthesia, pain, clinical practice and paediatrics and Professor Merry says it only publishes about 10 per cent of submitted papers.

"So the mere fact of our trial being published is pretty high praise."

Professor Merry says the trial, involving 135 adults, demonstrated "convincingly" that the combined dosage of Paracetamol and Ibuprofen was significantly more effective than Paracetamol alone for providing relief.

That combination has been commercialised by New Zealand-owned AFT Pharmaceuticals in the form of home-grown pain relief tablet 'Maxigesic' exclusively available at pharmacies.

AFT Pharmaceuticals funded the clinical trial, with assistance from NZTE, and launched Maxigesic in October last year.

Although doctors often prescribe Paracetamol and Ibuprofen in combination, these drugs have traditionally been taken separately and at different time intervals.

Maxigesic combines the two drugs in the ratio of Paracetamol 500mg and Ibuprofen 150mg to relieve pain and reduce fever and inflammation in one dosage.

AFT founder and pharmacologist Dr Hartley Atkinson says the company has substantial plans to license Maxigesic® internationally.

The global market for analgesics exceeds US$20 billion and Dr Atkinson says this represents a huge opportunity for the company and the NZ pharmaceutical industry at large.

"We've proven that New Zealand has the capability to develop IP-based cutting-edge medical solutions," says Dr Atkinson.

Professor Merry says the opportunities to carry out this type of clinical research in New Zealand are limited by the lack of available funding.

"The pain relief trial is a terrific example of the University, Auckland Hospital and a local company working together constructively."