The first non-opioid painkiller
a day ago
- #non-opioid
- #medical-innovation
- #pain-relief
- Opioids have been the primary pain relief method for centuries, despite their addictive nature.
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals developed Journavx (suzetrigine), the first non-opioid pain reliever approved by the FDA in 2025.
- Journavx targets NaV1.8 sodium channels in peripheral nociceptors, preventing pain signals without affecting the brain.
- Unlike opioids, Journavx does not cause euphoria, addiction, or respiratory depression.
- Developing non-opioid painkillers was challenging due to pain's complex biological pathways and vital bodily functions.
- Previous attempts with TRPV1 and nerve growth factor inhibitors failed due to severe side effects.
- Vertex's research on NaV1.8 channels was validated by genetic studies on pain insensitivity and erythromelalgia.
- Vertex used high-throughput screening to identify selective NaV1.8 inhibitors, leading to suzetrigine after decades of work.
- Journavx is effective for acute pain but not yet approved for chronic pain, with ongoing trials for diabetic neuropathy.
- Despite not outperforming opioid-acetaminophen combinations, Journavx offers a safer alternative to reduce opioid dependency.