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FDA Approves Suzetrigine
Context:
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved suzetrigine, a non-opioid painkiller, to be sold under the brand name Journavx.
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- Manufactured by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, suzetrigine is a non-addictive alternative to commonly used opioids, though it is currently expensive at $15.50 per pill.
- This marks a significant milestone in pain management as suzetrigine is the first non-opioid pain medication approved in over 20 years.
What are Opioids?
- Opioids are a class of drugs derived from the opium poppy plant or that mimic substances found in it. Common opioids include oxycodone, morphine, codeine, heroin, and fentanyl.
- Function: Opioids work by attaching to opioid receptors in the brain, blocking pain signals and inducing feelings of pleasure or euphoria.
- Addiction: While effective for pain relief, opioids are highly addictive. The pleasurable feelings they induce can lead to psychological dependence.
How Does Suzetrigine Work?
- Pain Mechanism: Pain is a signal from the body indicating potential harm. It involves nociceptors, specialised nerve endings that send signals to the brain, signalling pain when tissue is damaged.
- Suzetrigine’s Action: Unlike opioids, which numb pain in the brain, suzetrigine works by interrupting pain signals before they reach the brain. This means the brain doesn’t register the pain even though tissue injury may still be present.
- No Euphoria: Suzetrigine doesn’t induce feelings of pleasure or euphoria, meaning it does not cause addiction or dependence.
Suzetrigine’s Dosage
- It is a 50-milligram prescription pill taken every 12 hours after an initial larger starter dose.
- Trial Dosage: In clinical trials, participants received an initial dose of 100 milligrams, followed by 50 milligrams every 12 hours.
Why This Approval Matters?
- Opioid Crisis: The United States faces a severe opioid crisis, with over 82,000 opioid-related overdose deaths reported in 2022.
- The over-prescription of opioids has led to widespread misuse. The U.S. consumes 30 times more opioid pain medication than necessary.
- Government response: In 2017, Donald Trump declared opioids a public health emergency, calling the crisis a “national shame”. Trump has threatened tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China for failing to stop fentanyl exports into the US.
A Step Toward Solving the Opioid Epidemic
- Suzetrigine offers a safer alternative to opioids, reducing addiction risks while managing pain effectively.
- If widely adopted, it could help curb opioid dependence and lower overdose deaths in the US.
