FDA Approves First Non-Opioid Painkiller in Over 20 Years

The FDA has approved suzetrigine, the first non-opioid painkiller in over 20 years. This breakthrough offers a safer alternative for managing acute pain without addiction risks.

A Safer Alternative to Opioids

Opioids, though effective, carry a high risk of addiction. Patients using them for more than a week after surgery double their chances of long-term dependence. Studies show that around 6% of post-surgery patients in the U.S. develop persistent opioid use. Suzetrigine could help reduce this risk by providing effective pain relief without the addictive potential.

How Suzetrigine Works

Suzetrigine blocks sodium channels in nerve cells, stopping pain signals before they reach the brain. Unlike traditional local anesthetics, which affect sodium channels throughout the body—including the heart and brain—suzetrigine targets only Nav1.8, a channel found exclusively in peripheral pain-sensing neurons. This selectivity makes it both powerful and safe.

A Major Breakthrough in Pain Management

Vertex Pharmaceuticals developed suzetrigine (brand name Journavx) after screening numerous potential drugs. It is at least 30,000 times more selective for Nav1.8 than other sodium channels, minimizing side effects. Clinical trials with over 1,000 patients showed suzetrigine was as effective as opioids in treating acute pain after surgeries like bunion removal and tummy tucks, but with fewer side effects and no addiction risk.

While suzetrigine’s effectiveness for chronic pain remains unclear, its approval marks a major step in developing non-addictive pain treatments. This success could open doors for targeting other ion channels involved in pain, paving the way for safer, long-term solutions.

Read Original Article: Science Alert

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