A new non-opioid painkiller called Jounavx has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat short-term pain in adults. The drug targets pain signals before they reach the brain, reducing the risk of addiction associated with opioids.
The approval comes as the US struggles with a painkiller-addiction crisis, with tens of thousands of Americans dying from opioid use each year. In 2022, there were 82,000 opioid-involved overdose deaths in the country.
Jounavx’s manufacturer, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, claims the drug provides effective relief for moderate to severe pain without the addictive potential of opioids. Clinical trials have shown that Jounavx reduces pain after surgery and is considered an important public health milestone in acute pain management.
Unlike opioids, which work by stimulating opioid receptors in the brain, blocking pain signals, and flooding the brain with dopamine, creating feelings of euphoria, Jounavx blocks pain signals before they reach the brain. This makes it a safer alternative for treating acute pain.
The FDA approval is seen as historic by Vertex, with its CEO calling it a milestone for 80 million Americans who rely on opioids for moderate-to-severe acute pain each year. The drug will cost $15.50 per capsule and is not yet known to be safe and effective in children.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3vp15wx6rlo