Suzetrigine, a New Nonopioid Pain Medication, Gains U.S. FDA Approval

In January 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved VX-548 (suzetrigine, marketed as Journavx) — the first nonopioid pain medication to be approved in 20 years. The official indication is “treatment of moderate to severe acute pain in adults.” Given the relation between short-term opioid prescribing and long-term opioid use, developing effective alternatives to opioids is urgent.

Background

Suzetrigine is a selective sodium-channel blocker that targets Na_V1.8, a sodium channel expressed only in peripheral sensory neurons; suzetrigine blocks nociceptive pain signaling in the periphery and lacks any central activity (N Engl J Med 2023; 389:466). Previous attempts to use nonselective sodium-channel blockers (e.g., with phenytoin, car…