An alternative to opioid analgesics

For the first time in 20 years, a new non-dietary analgesic has entered the American market, which is able to block pain signals without affecting the central nervous system.

The drug Journavx (suzetrigine) is owned by Vertex Pharmaceuticals and is intended for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. 

The mechanism of action of the drug is to block the NaV1.8 sodium channel in the peripheral nervous system, which is localized exclusively in pain neurons (nociceptors) and is responsible for transmitting pain signals. At the same time, the drug affects only the peripheral nerves and does not penetrate the brain, so it is not addictive, unlike opioid analgesics.

The effectiveness of the development was proven in a phase III clinical trial involving patients who underwent surgery. 

After abdominoplasty, 61% of the patients in the Journalx group reported a reduction in pain of at least 30%. Only 48% of patients in the placebo group. 

The opioid analgesic, Vicodin, showed a more pronounced reduction in pain, but more often caused side effects. In particular, nausea and vomiting were a concern for 33% of patients in the Vicodin group, compared with 20% in the Journavx group.

Side effects of Journavx included itching, rash, and mild to moderate muscle spasms.

The analgesic effect after taking the drug occurred after 2-4 hours. 

In the USA, they assess the high social significance of the development. About 40 million people in the United States receive prescriptions for narcotic analgesics every year. 85 thousand subsequently develop an addiction. The emergence of a non-biological alternative will significantly reduce the risks associated with the use of narcotic drugs.