The FDA has recently approved a new non-opioid pain drug,suzetrigine (trade name journavx),which is a significant growth in pain management.This drug is an oral inhibitor of voltage-gated sodium channel 1.8 (NaV 1.8) and is intended for the treatment of moderate to severe acute pain [1[1[1[1]. This approval marks the first non-opioid pain medicine to be approved by the FDA in more then 20 years [2[2[2[2, 3].
The importance of this revelation lies in the targeted action of suzetrigine on the Nav1.8 channel, which is specifically present in peripheral pain-sensing neurons and not in other parts of the body. This targeted approach minimizes the risk of systemic side effects and reduces the potential for addiction associated with opioid painkillers.
In contrast, the neurotoxin tetrodotoxin found in fugu (puffer fish), which also blocks sodium channels, is highly dangerous and can cause fatal outcomes if consumed in significant quantities. The attraction of fugu lies in the slight tingle it causes, but this is due to the same toxic mechanism that makes it a delicacy only prepared by qualified handlers.
The development of suzetrigine represents a major advancement in pain management, offering a safer alternative to opioids and leveraging the specificity of sodium channels to achieve effective pain relief.The discovery and approval of suzetrigine for use opens up the possibility of treating acute pain by selectively blocking specific sodium channels, without the risk of addiction. More generally, the selective targeting of the many different ion channels that underlie pain signaling may pave the way for new, non-addictive treatments for all forms of acute and chronic pain.
While suzetrigine has shown promise in reducing pain with fewer side effects than opioid treatment and had no risk of addiction, so far, there is no convincing evidence that it is indeed effective in chronic, long-term pain relief.
This breakthrough could substantially impact pain management, offering a safer alternative to opioids and potentially transforming how we approach both acute and chronic pain.
Authors:
- Alistair Mathie,Professor of Pharmacology and Head of Life Sciences,University of Westminster
- Emma Veale, Senior Research Fellow, University of Kent
This article is republished from The Conversation under a creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Editor: What motivated the growth of the new non-opioid painkiller, suzetrigine?
guest: The development of suzetrigine was motivated by the need for safer alternatives to opioid painkillers. Opioids, while effective for pain management, carry notable risks of addiction and systemic side effects. By targeting the Nav1.8 sodium channel specifically present in peripheral pain-sensing neurons,suzetrigine offers a more targeted approach that minimizes these risks.
Editor: How dose suzetrigine’s targeted action on the Nav1.8 channel differentiate it from other pain treatments?
Guest: Unlike traditional painkillers that act on the entire nervous system,suzetrigine’s targeted action on the Nav1.8 channel in peripheral pain-sensing neurons means it selectively affects pain signals without affecting other parts of the body. This specificity reduces the potential for addiction and systemic side effects, making it a significant advancement in pain management.
Editor: Can you compare suzetrigine’s mechanism with that of neurotoxins like tetrodotoxin found in fugu?
Guest: Tetrodotoxin also blocks sodium channels but, unlike suzetrigine, is extremely toxic and can be fatal if consumed. While the slight tingle from fugu is due to the same toxic mechanism, suzetrigine has been designed to safely and selectively block the Nav1.8 channel, offering pain relief without dangerous side effects.
Editor: What are the implications of this finding for the treatment of acute and chronic pain?
Guest: the discovery and approval of suzetrigine open up new possibilities for treating acute pain by selectively blocking specific sodium channels. More importantly, the selective targeting of ion channels involved in pain signaling may lead to new, non-addictive treatments for all forms of acute and chronic pain.This represents a major advancement in pain management.
Conclusion:
Suzetrigine’s approval as a new non-opioid painkiller is a significant milestone in pain management,offering a safer alternative to opioids. Its targeted action on the Nav1.8 sodium channel minimizes the risks of addiction and systemic side effects, paving the way for more effective and non-addictive pain treatments. The future of pain management looks promising as researchers continue to explore the targeted manipulation of ion channels to alleviate pain.
