New opioid-free Painful medication It was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday and marked a non-affiliated alternative for patients.
According to a press release from the Massachusetts-based company, Journavx (Suzetrigine), created by the apex, is “the first and only unapproved non-opioid oral pain signal inhibitor.”
The new drug is intended to treat moderate to severe acute pain in adults.
The importance of non-opioid replacement
Patients with acute pain are often prescribed after surgery or due to bone breakage or injury Opioid drugsJulie Piritis, MD, PhD, said Banner’s neurosurgeon – Chair of the College of Medicine and the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Arizona School of Medicine in Tucson.
The new opioid-free painkiller was approved by the FDA on Thursday and marked a non-condensed alternative for patients. (istock)
“This is the first time many patients have received opioids, and it is known that a subset of patients continues. Addiction or addiction She told Fox News Digital.
“Painful patients had few options to treat pain with medications that had no addictive properties or unacceptable side effects.”
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Piritis says that the main reason traditional painkillers have toxic properties or unbearable side effects is that they act by modifying receptors in the brain.
“This drug, a drug that inhibits sodium channels, works outside the brain at pain receptors,” she noted.
“It’s exciting to have options other than opioids to prescribe in these cases, and this is the first time in nearly 20 years that offers acute pain to patients.”
“Large unmet needs”
Acute pain – sudden or urgent pain caused by injuries, trauma, or surgery – affects more than 80 million Americans a year, and is the most common reason Emergency Department According to statistics, visit.
Approximately half of these are prescribed opioids, and 10% of them have “long-term opioid use.”

Acute pain – sudden or emergency pain caused by injuries, trauma, or surgery – affects more than 80 million Americans a year and is the most common reason for emergency department visits. (istock)
In 2023, more than 5 million Americans aged 12 and over reported “prescription use disorders” within the past year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Approximately 294,000 people have died Overdose of prescription opioids Between 1999 and 2022, it was mentioned in the sources above.
By effectively managing acute pain, suzetrigine may help to prevent chronic pain from occurring without the risk of addiction and meet “big unmet needs,” according to the Cleveland Clinic Pain Management specialists jianguo cheng, MD and PhD pointed out.
“This is the first time in nearly 20 years that we have new things to provide acute pain to patients.”
“Many current treatments rely on opioids, contributing to addiction and misuse,” he told Fox News Digital. “The non-opioid mechanism of suzetriggin eliminates the risk of misuse, addiction and addiction Respiratory suppressionmaking it a safer alternative for acute pain management. ”
In addition to acute pain, suzetrigine is also a solution to neuropathic (neurological) pain, doctors added, depending on the findings of further studies.

In addition to acute pain, suzetrigine may also be a solution to neuropathic (neurological) pain, doctors noted. (istock)
Dr. Marc Siegel, a senior medical analyst and professor of clinical medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News, also praised Suzetrigine’s approval.
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“have There are no signs of addictionHe will be a very important new tool when fighting the opioid epidemic,” he told Fox News Digital.
In clinical trials, non-opioid drugs received high patient satisfaction ratings, with 83% reporting “good” to “good” pain relief in real-world applications, Cheng said.
“This drug is a huge step forward and is well studied.”
Siegel noted that the drug shows that it reduces pain by about half.
“This drug is a huge step forward and is well studied,” he added.
Access and side effects
Suzetrigine is now available to patients Acute painthe famous Pyritis.
“It’s important to find a doctor who is comfortable prescribing painkillers and make sure your insurance company is covered,” she advised.
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According to CHENG, the drug is expected to fall under the NoPain Act, which was prevented in January 2025.
“This policy aims to improve access and affordability and ensure Suzetriggin is included in outpatient patients. Surgical settings While reducing our dependence on opioids,” he said.

In 2023, more than 5 million Americans over the age of 12 reported “prescription use disorders” within the past year, according to the CDC. (istock)
According to the company’s website, the most common side effects of Journavx include itching, muscle cramps, rashes, and increased levels of an enzyme called creatine phosphokinase in the blood.
This drug can also pose temporary fertility challenges.
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Certain drugs may increase the risk of side effects and affect the effectiveness of the drug, the company warned, as well as foods and drinks containing grapefruit.
Patients should see a doctor if side effects become troublesome or if they do not leave.
Fox News Digital reached out to Vertex for additional comment.