In a press release January 30th, the United States Food and Drug Administration announced that they have approved a novel non-opioid pain killer for acute pain.
Acting FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research director Jacqueline Corrigan-Curay, J.D., M.D. explained the significance of this approval saying, ‘Today’s approval is an important public health milestone in acute pain management… A new non-opioid analgaesic therapeutic class for acute pain offers an opportunity to mitigate certain risks associated with using an opioid for pain and provides patients with another treatment option. This action and the agency’s designations to expedite the drug’s development and review underscore FDA’s commitment to approving safe and effective alternatives to opioids for pain management.’
The drug, JOURNAVX™ (suzetrigine), developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, has been approved for severe to moderate pain in adults and whole priced at $15.50 per 50 mg pill in the USA. This non-opioid pain killer is designed to address the neurons that carry pain signals to the pain rather than targeting the brain itself, avoiding potential recreational use and addiction.
Reshma Kewalramani, M.D., Chief Executive Officer and President of Vertex expressed his excitement at this news saying, ‘With the approval of JOURNAVX, a non-opioid, pain signal inhibitor and the first new class of pain medicine approved in more than 20 years, we have the opportunity to change the paradigm of acute pain management and establish a new standard of care.’
This development is especially significant in the wake of moves by healthcare authorities to minimize the use of opioid based pain killers in clinical settings.
More coverage on efficacy and mechanism to follow.
Commissioner O of the. FDA Approves Novel Non-Opioid Treatment for Moderate to Severe Acute Pain. FDA. January 30, 2025. Accessed February 4, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-novel-non-opioid-treatment-moderate-severe-acute-pain
Vertex Announces FDA Approval of JOURNAVXTM (suzetrigine), a First-in-Class Treatment for Adults With Moderate-to-Severe Acute Pain | Vertex Pharmaceuticals Newsroom. Accessed February 4, 2025. https://news.vrtx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/vertex-announces-fda-approval-journavxtm-suzetrigine-first-class
