Pain relief is reported to turn into a sort of addiction due to regular usage to fight acute pain; however, Vertex Pharmaceuticals has found a new alternative to these pain reliefs by inventing a non-opioid painkiller pill that was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration on Thursday. To learn more about FDA-approved nonopioid pain medication, read the article below.
Vextex Pharmaceuticals
Vertex Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company that is known to focus on developing innovative treatments related to serious diseases. The company strongly invests capital in their research and development department, which has made it a pioneer in the field of medications. The company is heavily expanding its research and development into the area of pain management.
With FDA approved non opioid pain medication, Vextex Pharmaceuticals has marked another significant step towards their goal of expanding their expertise into pain management.
The approval is in itself a huge achievement, as this non-opioid medication offers an alternative for opioid-based treatments, which are linked to addiction issues and overdose crises, but now, with this new development, patients with acute pain or chronic pain have a more effective and non-addictive alternative to turn to.
Impact on Vertex Pharmaceuticals stock
After the public announcement by the US Food and Drug Administration about the approval of non-opioid pain medications, suzetrigine, the company’s stocks had seen a significant increase. The increment was approximately 8%, reflecting the investors trust and positive outlook towards the improvement in the healthcare industry and drugs’ market potential.
What is Pain Management?
Pain management is a crucial part of the healthcare industry that helps reduce the discomfort patients face and improves their quality of life. For several decades, medical professionals have used and prescribed opioid medications such as oxycodone and morphine to reduce and manage pain. However, after some time, people began misusing these opioid drugs, which led to a nationwide epidemic of serious addiction problems and an increase in the number of deaths due to overdoses on these pills.
The urgent need for alternative medications for pain management arose to reduce opioid use and minimize the risk of addiction and misuse of opioid medications. The approval that the US FDA granted is now seen as an alternative and a potential solution that could make a difference in pain management and treatment.
FDA Approved Non Opioid Pain Medication
The drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration have undergone many rigorous clinical trials that tested them for safety and effectiveness. The approval is based on many parameters, such as the treatment for specific body pain conditions, such as neuropathic pain and postsurgical pains, etc., and that too by avoiding the risk associated with opioids. The clinical studies done on the non-opioid medications have shown promising results, showcasing that non-opioid drugs can provide good pain relief without the side effects of the opioid drugs.
The approval has also signified the importance of promoting safe pain management options for public healthcare, which would have fewer adverse impacts on the patients health.
How do Vertex’s non-opioid medications work?
The typical opioid works by binding opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, which have central nervous systems passing through them. Meanwhile, Vertex nonopioid medications function in different ways. It targets a specific pain pathway in the nervous system without affecting any areas of the brain responsible for addictions. It detects the nerve ending that is where the pain signals are coming from and blocks the pathway before the signal can reach the brain.
The name of the non-opioid pain medications from Vertex Pharmaceuticals is Journavx (suzetrigine), which is particularly approved for use in the treatment of moderate to severe acute pain due to injuries, surgery, illness, or painful medical procedures that are likely to reduce with time. Journavx will cost $15.50 per capsule.
Key benefits of Vextex’s non-opioid medications
- Non-addictive properties: In contrast with opioid medications, these drugs do not trigger the brain system, reducing the risk of dependency on them.
- Fewer side effects: Opioid medications often result in drowsiness, nausea, etc. after their usage, whereas this medication has fewer chances of such conditions, making it more favorable towards patients safety.
- Potential for chronic pain management: This medication has shown promising results in treating conditions such as neuropathic pain, caused by nerve damage.
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Challenges for Journavx
Despite the benefits of non-opioid medications, it does have its challenges to overcome, which include:
Accessibility and affordability
It is still in its early stages, and hence the affordability and accessibility to every person are in question. The insurance companies have also not confirmed whether they will cover the cost of these medications, as some people might not be able to afford them.
Long-term safety and effectiveness
Although the FDA has granted approval for the medications, they are still continuously monitoring them for any unforeseen side effects.
Wider acceptance by healthcare providers and the public
The whole purpose of creating the medication was to sell it to the masses and encourage its adoption; hence, physicians and pain specialists must accept it into their treatment practices.
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Milestones for healthcare medications
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The approval has led to a revolution in developing safer, more sustainable medication options, especially for chronic pain patients. This will also prevent the destruction of countless lives.
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“We have the opportunity to change how we manage acute pain and create a new standard of care,” said Dr. Reshma Kewalramani, CEO of Vertex.
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She described the approval as a “historic milestone for the 80 million Americans prescribed medication for moderate-to-severe acute pain annually.”
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“This approval marks a crucial public health milestone in the management of acute pain,” said Dr. Jacqueline Corrigan-Curay, acting director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
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This development has reshaped pain management by reducing reliance on opioids. It also lowers the costs associated with addiction treatment and overdose-related issues.
Shubhangi Gupta is a distinguished content writer and the visionary founder of The Unpleasant – Acha Nahi Sabse Sacha. With a Master’s degree in Commerce from University of Lucknow, Shubhangi has seamlessly blended her academic background with her passion for reading and writing, embarking on a successful career as a content writer since 2019.
