The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week approved the new non-opioid analgesic suzetrigine (Journavx) to treat moderate to severe acute pain in adults. Suzetrigine is an oral tablet that reduces pain by targeting the NaV1.8 pain-signaling pathway in the peripheral nervous system before the pain signals reach the brain. It is the first drug to be approved in this new class of pain management medicines, according to the FDA. Two randomized, double-blind trials of acute surgical pain demonstrated a statistically significant superior reduction in pain with suzetrigine compared to placebo. Suzetrigine is taken twice daily and has a wholesale acquisition cost in the United States of $15.50 per 50mg pill.
Worthwhile alternative: According to the manufacturer’s press release, the approval marks the first new class of pain medication created in more than 20 years. Its non-opioid feature will no doubt be of benefit as clinicians and patients seek alternatives to addictive opioids for pain control. Nearly 10% of acute pain patients treated initially with an opioid will go on to have prolonged opioid use, according to the press release, and about 85,000 patients develop opioid use disorder annually.