First Non-Opioid Painkiller Approved After Decades-Long Search
2025-06-26
After a 27-year journey costing billions of dollars, Vertex Pharmaceuticals has achieved a breakthrough: the FDA approval of Journavx (suzetrigine), the first non-opioid pain reliever for post-surgical pain. Targeting the NaV1.8 sodium ion channel in peripheral neurons, Journavx prevents pain signals from reaching the brain without the addictive and debilitating side effects of opioids. This monumental achievement represents a significant victory in ion channel research and offers hope in combating the opioid crisis, although its price and applicability remain areas for improvement.