The FDA has approved Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ Journavx, a non-opioid painkiller designed for adults with moderate to severe pain, marking the emergence of a new class of non-addictive medicines. Unlike opioids, Journavx blocks pain signals before they reach the brain, reducing the risk of addiction, though it carries side effects such as nausea, rash, and constipation. With a high list price of $15.50 per pill, analysts predict it could generate $1 billion in annual sales. Vertex plans further trials to explore its effectiveness for chronic pain treatment. This approval is a major step in addressing the opioid crisis, which caused over 80,000 deaths in 2021. Continue here.
