Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Suzetrigine (JOURNAVX™), a first-in-class voltage-gated sodium channel 1.8 (NaV1.8) inhibitor, is an efficacious and well-tolerated non-opioid analgesic approved in the USA for the treatment of moderate to severe acute pain in adults. By selectively inhibiting the peripherally restricted NaV1.8 to reduce pain signal transmission, suzetrigine is expected to have minimal addictive potential. As shown in two double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled phase 3 trials in adults experiencing moderate to severe acute pain following a bunionectomy or abdominoplasty, a 48-h course of oral suzetrigine reduces pain intensity significantly more than placebo, although the trials did not demonstrate the superiority of suzetrigine over the opioid-based active comparator, hydrocodone bitartrate/acetaminophen 5 mg/325 mg. Suzetrigine is generally well tolerated; in clinical trials, nausea, constipation, and headache were the most common adverse events and most were of mild or moderate severity. No evidence of addictive potential for suzetrigine was found based on in vitro, preclinical, and clinical trial data. Pain is an unpleasant and emotional experience resulting from actual or potential tissue damage that is described as acute when it is sudden onset and lasts for ≤ 30 days. Sequelae from inadequately treated moderate to severe acute pain can be a substantial burden on patients, their families, healthcare systems, and society. Current treatment options for moderate to severe acute pain typically include opioid-based therapies as part of a multimodal pain management plan, despite opioids having unfavorable tolerability and safety concerns. Suzetrigine (JOURNAVX™) is an oral, non-opioid analgesic, which, by targeting a different pain transmission pathway to opioid-based medications, is predicted to have lower addictive potential. Suzetrigine treatment reduced pain intensity significantly more in adults with moderate to severe acute pain following bunionectomy and abdominoplasty compared with placebo. Suzetrigine was generally well tolerated: nausea, constipation, and headache were the most common adverse events. As an efficacious and well-tolerated non-opioid analgesic, suzetrigine extends treatment options for moderate to severe acute pain in adults.
Source: Drugs & Therapy Perspectives
Authors: Aisling McGuigan, Matt Shirley
Institution: Springer Nature (New Zealand)
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,490
OpenAlex ID: W7134951430