Experimental Pain Drug May Offer Alternative to Opioids, Study Suggests

(CNN) – Vertex Pharmaceuticals announced the success of its experimental pain medicine, VX-548, in a late-stage clinical trial, showing promise as a safer alternative to opioids. The drug demonstrated superior pain relief compared to a placebo in patients undergoing abdominoplasty and bunionectomy surgeries without the safety concerns associated with opioids. Although VX-548 did not outperform an opioid treatment in efficacy, it offered comparable pain relief on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale. The drug operates differently from opioids by targeting the peripheral nervous system, specifically blocking a sodium channel known as NaV1.8, involved in pain signaling. This mechanism offers a new approach to pain management, potentially marking the first new class of acute pain medicine in over two decades. Vertex plans to seek FDA approval by mid-2024, aiming for broad approval for treating various pain conditions. The drug was well-tolerated in trials, with fewer adverse effects than those seen in placebo or opioid groups.

Source: CNN