The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new prescription pain medication, Journavx (suzetrigine), for adults experiencing moderate to severe acute pain. Developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Journavx is a non-opioid pain reliever that does not carry the addictive risks associated with traditional opioid medications.
This marks the first FDA-approved drug of its kind in over 20 years.
Dr. Jacqueline Corrigan-Curay, acting director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, called the approval a significant milestone in pain management, offering patients a safer alternative to opioids.
In clinical trials involving adults aged 18 to 80, Journavx was shown to reduce acute pain by approximately 50% within 48 hours. Patients experienced meaningful pain relief within two to four hours, compared to eight hours for those taking a placebo. The drug works by blocking the NaV1.8 pain signal in the peripheral nervous system, without affecting the brain or central nervous system, which makes it non-addictive.
Journavx demonstrated similar effectiveness to the opioid hydrocodone in managing acute pain but without the risks of addiction.
Another trial testing the drug on patients with various surgical and non-surgical pain conditions confirmed its safety and efficacy. Over 80% of participants rated it as a good to excellent pain treatment.
Dr. Jianguo Cheng, a pain management expert at the Cleveland Clinic, praised the drug’s potential to reduce opioid dependency and prevent acute pain from developing into chronic pain. He noted its fast-acting relief makes it valuable for post-surgical and emergency pain management.
However, Journavx cannot be taken with certain liver enzyme-inhibiting drugs, meaning some patients may not be eligible. Additionally, grapefruit should be avoided while using the medication.
