Suzetrigine and Targeted Nav1.8 Inhibition for Acute Pain Management
Abstract
The lack of successful novel analgesics in recent decades means that opioids are still commonly prescribed to treat acute pain. However, suzetrigine (trade name: JOURNAX), developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, is a new oral Nav1.8 (voltage-gated sodium channel) inhibitor that is trying to flip the script. Suzetrigine was recently approved by the FDA in January 2025 to treat moderate-to-severe acute pain. Two Phase II studies showcased that suzetrigine significantly reduced pain scores compared to placebo in patients following their abdominoplasty or bunionectomy procedures. Data from Phase II and Phase III trials also suggested that suzetrigine is generally safe, with the most common adverse side effects being headaches and constipation. There is also no evidence to suggest that suzetrigine has addictive properties in animal models and from systemic analysis of clinical subjects so far. However, we have yet to test the effects of prolonged suzetrigine usage in patients with chronic pain. This review seeks to put into context the current literature on suzetrigine, scrutinize its testing, and ask questions about its future.
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