A Shared Perspective on the Newly Approved Nonopioid Alternative for Acute Pain: Jessica Oswald, MD, MPH

WATCH TIME: 4 minutes

“[Suzetrigine] redefines a standard of care about providing nonopioid pain relief with fewer [adverse] effects. There are potential future applications in chronic pain, although more research is needed.”

Acute pain, often resulting from surgery, accidents, injuries, or from neurologic conditions, is known as a significant and potentially debilitating condition. Each year, over 80 million patients in the United States receive prescriptions for moderate-to-severe acute pain, with nearly 40 million being prescribed opioids. However, opioid use for acute pain carries risks, as around 10% of patients initially treated with opioids develop prolonged use, and approximately 85,000 individuals annually are diagnosed with opioid use disorder. Beyond individual consequences, poorly managed acute pain can lead to chronic pain, reduced quality of life, and increased strain on the healthcare system.¹

Recently, the FDA approved suzetrigine (Journavx; Vertex Pharmaceuticals) for the treatment of moderate-to-severe acute pain, making it the first new drug class for acute pain in over 2 decades. This approval was supported by a phase 3 clinical program that included 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials—one in post-abdominoplasty surgery and another in post-bunionectomy surgery—as well as a broader safety and efficacy study involving both surgical and non-surgical pain conditions. By targeting only peripheral pain signals without affecting the brain, suzetrigine provides effective pain relief while avoiding the addictive potential and adverse effects associated with opioids.²

Following the approval, Jessica Oswald, MD, MPH, an associate professor in pain management and emergency medicine at UC San Diego, shared her insights and initial reaction in a recent interview with NeurologyLive^®. During the discussion, Oswald, also a steering committee member at Vertex, addressed key questions regarding suzetrigine’s place in the pain management landscape, including how it compared with traditional opioid treatments in terms of efficacy and safety across different patient populations. She also explored the potential impact of suzetrigine’s availability on perioperative and emergency pain management strategies. Additionally, Oswald delved into the broader implications of NaV inhibitors, such as suzetrigine, on the future of chronic pain treatment and ongoing research in the field.

REFERENCES
1. Vertex Announces FDA Approval of JOURNAVX™ (suzetrigine), a First-in-Class Treatment for Adults With Moderate-to-Severe Acute Pain. News Release. Published January 30, 2025. Accessed February 21, 2025. https://investors.vrtx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/vertex-announces-fda-approval-journavxtm-suzetrigine-first-class
2. Vertex Announces FDA Acceptance of New Drug Application for Suzetrigine for the Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Acute Pain. News Release. Vertex. July 30, 2024. Accessed February 21, 2025. https://news.vrtx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/vertex-announces-fda-acceptance-new-drug-application-suzetrigine