Summary: The US FDA is reviewing Suzetrigine, a new class of drugs, on priority. This drug is especially useful for moderate to severe pain caused by chronic peripheral neuropathy. This drug acts on pain-sensing neurons in the periphery with limited impact on the brain, making it a much safer choice than opioids.
The US FDA has accepted the application for an entirely new class of drug, a painkiller that is as effective as opioids but without their side effects. This drug, called Suzetrigine, is good for moderate to severe pain, and if approved, it will change the way pain is treated. It works by preventing the pain signals from reaching the brain.
This news is important, especially considering that so many people are living with chronic pain. Almost all people will experience pain during their lifetime. Opioids work for many, but they also cause dependence and addiction in many. Thus, about a million adults in the US need treatment for opioid use disorder. Chronic pain specialists highlight this issue, making new treatments like Suzetrigine crucial.
Although there are many painkillers, chronic pain is a complex issue. What works for one may not work for another. Therefore, it is little surprise that chronic pain is poorly controlled in so many individuals. The truth is that there is still a need to develop effective and safer painkillers. Till the alternatives are not found, doctors would need to prescribe opioids in many cases. However, this new drug offers hope. Since the US FDA has accepted the application, the drug is in advanced stages of development and may be introduced in the coming years.
When it comes to mild to moderate pain, doctors generally use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These drugs are relatively safe and work by reducing inflammation and suppressing the production of certain chemicals like prostaglandins. Thus, they reduce pain sensation in the periphery and may also influence how the brain perceives the pain.
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NSAIDs work for most people but not for all. They often fail when the pain is severe or complex chronic pain where inflammation is not the primary cause of pain. In such instances, doctors might add some other drugs to NSAIDs to reduce pain sensation, like antidepressants, anti-seizure drugs, and others. However, adding those other drugs only helps in a small number of cases. Moreover, those drugs cause many side effects.
Therefore, it is little surprise that in a large number of cases, doctors need to prescribe opioids. Opioids, unlike other drugs, act or bind to opioid receptors (mu, kappa, delta) in the brain, spinal cord, and other parts of the body. Since they mainly work by binding to brain receptors, they are also more likely to cause dependence or even addiction. Further, overdosing on these drugs may pose a significant health threat. Interventional pain management in St. Louis provide help in these cases to address pain without resorting to opioids, but with limited success until now.
So, this new drug is really good news for millions of adults in the US living with poorly controlled pain. Moreover, the US FDA has accepted the application for Suzetrigine. This drug is unique and, unlike other painkillers, has a unique mechanism of action. It works in the periphery, which means that it prevents pain signals from traveling to the brain. Hence, it is not likely to cause side effects characteristic of opioids and has an excellent safety profile.
This new drug, Suzetrigine, is a voltage-gated sodium channel blocker. It blocks the generation of pain signals from pain-sensing receptors or nociceptive neurons (pain-sensing neurons). It mainly acts on peripheral nerves, though it may have some impact on the brain, too. It also inhibits pain transmission.
In fact, the US FDA also recognizes a gap in pain treatment, so it has given this drug a priority review. This drug may be especially good for nerve pains due to chronic peripheral neuropathy, a pain more common in diabetes patients. However, it is quite likely to be effective for different kinds of nerve pain. This is especially good, considering that, at present, few drugs help with nerve pain or neuropathies. Chronic pain specialists are eagerly awaiting this development, as it promises safer, more effective treatment options for patients.
Source:
Vertex Announces FDA Acceptance of New Drug Application for Suzetrigine for the Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Acute Pain | Vertex Pharmaceuticals. (n.d.). Retrieved October 2, 2024, from https://investors.vrtx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/vertex-announces-fda-acceptance-new-drug-application-suzetrigine
