Revolutionary Non-opioid Drug Released On The Market

Recently, Vertex Pharmaceuticals – a US gene tech company – announced a novel non-opioid painkiller for adults – Journavx – the first painkiller in the last 25 years approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

This drug alters deep molecular mechanisms in the human body, preventing the pain signals in the brain. A new medical solution is dedicated to revolutionizing the field of painkillers, paving the way to the new, extra-safe class of toxic-free medicine.

How does it work?

The research on the drug started in the 2000s when the opioid pandemic began to gain momentum in the US. The key feature of the substance is affecting the so-called sodium channels – special molecular gates in our neurons that serve as gates. According to specific electric signals, these channels can close or open the pass for sodium ions. The latter, in turn, provokes a subsequent chain of nerve impulses that lead to feelings of pain.

The key drug's active substance – suzetrigine – blocks this process, preventing the emergence of pain signals in neurons, and, according to the Vertex, as effective as existing opioid analogs.

Why it's important?

In dentistry – opioid painkillers are often prescribed after surgeries like wisdom tooth extraction or implantation to manage acute pain after the procedure. Still, these medicines have a long list of side effects, including vomiting, slowed breathing, drowsiness, and euphoria. The latter is probably the most severe one because it can cause addiction. Also, this effect is aggravated by the physiological impact of the opioids – they bind to receptors in the brain, preventing them from receiving the signal from the body.

Suzetrigine compound lacks these disadvantages, as it alters deep mechanisms of nerve signal transition, so it's a solution that can solve the problem of an opioid pandemic that is especially severe in developed countries, especially in the US.

Still, it's important to note that the drug still has some side effects and contradictions. During the clinical studies, in some participants, scientists observed creatine phosphokinase levels (in some cases, may stress muscle tissues) in blood, rash, itching, and muscle spasms. Also, patients should avoid using this drug with some antibiotics, as mentioned in the medicine manual.

Vertex set a $15.50 price per one 50 milligram pill – patients need two per day. While, on average, opioid drugs cost four times less, Vertex's invention is still a cost-effective solution, especially considering avoided health risks.

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