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Suzetrigine, a Nonopioid Na V 1.8 Inhibitor for Treatment of Moderate-to-severe Acute Pain: Two Phase 3 Randomized Clinical Trials

Bertoch T, D'Aunno D, McCoun J, Solanki D, Taber L, Urban J, Oswald J, Swisher MW et al.

Anesthesiology, 2025

1,118 participants · 106 citations

Abstract

Background: Opioids are effective for treating acute pain but have safety, tolerability, and addiction concerns while nonopioid analgesics have limited efficacy. Suzetrigine, an oral, nonopioid small molecule, selectively inhibits the voltage-gated sodium channel 1.8 (NaV1.8) and has potential to provide efficacious and safe relief for acute pain without addiction concerns. Methods: To evaluate suzetrigine for treatment of acute pain, two phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled trials were conducted in adults with moderate-to-severe acute pain on the verbal categorical rating scale and 4 or greater on the numeric pain rating scale after abdominoplasty (n = 1,118) or bunionectomy (n = 1,073). After surgery, participants were randomized to suzetrigine (100 mg, then 50 mg every 12 h), hydrocodone bitartrate/acetaminophen (5/325 mg every 6 h), or placebo for 48 h. The primary endpoint was time-weighted sum of the pain intensity difference in numeric pain rating scale from 0 to 48 h (SPID48) versus placebo. Key secondary endpoints were SPID48 versus hydrocodone bitartrate/acetaminophen and time to 2-point or greater reduction in numeric pain rating scale from baseline versus placebo. Results: The primary endpoint was achieved in both trials with suzetrigine demonstrating statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in pain versus placebo. The least squares mean difference in SPID48 between suzetrigine and placebo was 48.4 (95% CI, 33.6…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 1,118 participants or records.

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