On January 30, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of Journavx™ (suzetrigine) for the treatment of moderate-to-severe acute pain in adults.

Journavx is a first-in-class, non-opioid analgesic designed to reduce pain by targeting a pain-signaling pathway involving specific sodium channels in the peripheral nervous system, before pain signals reach the brain. This new medication is marketed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated and now available as a 50 mg oral tablet.

The recommended starting dose is 100 mg orally. Starting 12 hours after the initial dose, the dose is 50 mg every 12 hours. Like other analgesics, Journavx should be used for the shortest duration, consistent with individual patient treatment goals. Use of Journavx for the treatment of moderate to severe acute pain has not been studied beyond 14 days.

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Currently, medical treatment guidelines do not address the use of Journavx. However, given that it is not a controlled substance and has low potential for abuse, Journavx could be considered an alternative to an opioid analgesic for the short-term treatment of acute pain, even though it has not demonstrated superiority versus opioid analgesics for pain relief.

For more information on Journavx, click here.

If you have any questions, please contact your account manager, clinical liaison, or our Clinical Services team at 1-877-275-7674 ext. 8612.

Sources:

1. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated Press Release. Vertex Announces FDA Approval of JOURNAVX™ (suzetrigine), a First-in-Class Treatment for Adults With Moderate-to-Severe Acute Pain. January 30, 2025. Available at: Vertex Announces FDA Approval of JOURNAVX™ (suzetrigine), a First-in-Class Treatment for Adults With Moderate-to-Severe Acute Pain | Vertex Pharmaceuticals Newsroom. Accessed on February 3, 2025.