Synopsis
The FDA has approved a new pain relief medication, Journavx, developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals. This non-opioid alternative aims to reduce the risks of addiction and overdose linked to traditional opioids, providing a safer option for acute pain management.Key Takeaways
- The FDA has approved Journavx for short-term pain management.
- Journavx is the first drug in a new class aimed at reducing opioid risks.
- The drug targets sodium channels to alleviate pain signals.
- Clinical studies suggest Journavx is more effective than placebo.
- Common side effects include itching and muscle spasms.
New York, Feb 1 (NationPress) US federal authorities have given the green light to a novel pain medication designed to eliminate the dangers of addiction and overdose linked to opioid drugs such as Vicodin and OxyContin.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Thursday that it has approved Vertex Pharmaceuticals' Journavx for managing short-term pain that frequently occurs after surgeries or injuries, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
Journavx (suzetrigine) 50 milligram oral tablets represent the first medication to receive approval in this innovative category of pain management treatments.
“The approval granted today marks a significant public health achievement in the realm of acute pain management,” stated Jacqueline Corrigan-Curay, acting director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
“This new non-opioid analgesic class for acute pain provides an opportunity to mitigate specific risks associated with opioid use for pain and offers patients an additional treatment option. This decision, alongside the agency’s initiatives to accelerate the drug’s development and review, highlights the FDA’s dedication to approving safe and effective alternatives to opioids for pain management,” Corrigan-Curay added.
Journavx alleviates pain by targeting a pain-signaling pathway that involves sodium channels within the peripheral nervous system before the pain signals reach the brain. However, the drug's modest efficacy and prolonged development timeline emphasize the challenges of finding innovative methods for pain management, it was noted.
Research involving over 870 patients suffering from acute pain due to foot and abdominal surgeries demonstrated that Vertex's drug offered greater relief than a placebo but did not surpass a standard opioid-acetaminophen combination pill, it reported.
The most frequently reported side effects among study participants taking Journavx included itching, muscle spasms, elevated blood levels of creatine phosphokinase, and rash.
Journavx is not recommended for use with strong CYP3A inhibitors. Furthermore, patients are advised to avoid food or beverages containing grapefruit while on Journavx.
