The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new type of pain reliever, suzetrigine, after more than two decades. The drug is a 50-milligram prescription pill taken every 12 hours after a larger starter dose. It will be sold under the brand name Journavx.
The approval of suzetrigine offers an opportunity to mitigate risks associated with opioid painkillers, which can lead to dependence and addiction. According to a study by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, about half of the 80 million Americans who fill prescriptions for moderate to severe pain each year use opioid medications.
Suzetrigine works by preventing pain-signaling nerves around the body from firing in the first place, rather than dulling their sensation like opioids do. This means that suzetrigine creates no euphoria or high, reducing the risk of addiction and dependence.
The medication was discovered after researchers studied a family of fire walkers in Pakistan who lacked a gene allowing pain signals to fire in their skin. The team found that by closing one sodium channel that conducts only pain signals, they could develop a medication that blocks pain without the risks associated with opioids.
Suzetrigine has shown promise in clinical trials, controlling pain after abdominal and foot surgeries better than an inactive placebo pill. However, doctors stress that it may not be the right drug for everyone or every type of pain. The wholesale cost of suzetrigine is set at $15.50 per 50-mg pill, but patient assistance programs will be available.
The approval of suzetrigine provides proof of concept that a sodium-channel blocker can reduce pain in humans, opening up the door to further development and potential more effective medications. As one doctor noted, “The more options we have, the better we’re able to treat each and every patient.”
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/30/health/fda-approves-painkiller-suzetrigine-journavx/index.html