FDA Approves Vertex's Non-Opioid Painkiller Journavx

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Above: The painkillers fentanyl, tilidine and oxycodone on the counter in a pharmacy on Aug. 19, 2024. Image copyright: Monika Skolimowska/Picture Alliance via Getty Images

The Facts

  • The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday approved Vertex Pharmaceuticals' Journavx drug — reportedly a first-of-its-kind alternative to opioid painkillers — for public use.

  • The FDA said Journavx curbs "pain by targeting a pain-signaling pathway involving sodium channels in the peripheral nervous system, before pain signals reach the brain." It is the first novel analgesic to receive an FDA nod in over 20 years.

  • Vertex stated that Journavx — also called suzetrigine — is "an oral, non-opioid, highly selective NaV1.8 pain signal inhibitor," adding that it shows no "evidence of addictive potential." Opioids, meanwhile, block pain signals by stimulating opioid receptors in the brain.

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The Spin

Narrative A

For millions tormented by pain, Vertex's newly FDA-approved Journavx marks a revolutionary departure from traditional painkillers. Unlike older remedies, this breakthrough drug works by blocking specific sodium channels in peripheral nerves before pain signals can reach the brain. This offers opioid-level relief without addiction risks, making it the first new class of pain medication in over 20 years.

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Narrative B

While Vertex's VX-548 has been hailed as revolutionary, early data suggests a sobering reality. The drug failed to outperform even low-dose Vicodin in surgical pain, and recent trials for chronic pain showed it working no better than a placebo. Though safer than opioids, its pain-relieving effects are slow to kick in, taking up to eight hours post-surgery. For millions seeking relief, this "breakthrough" may be more smart marketing than medicine.

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Metaculus Prediction

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