PainRelief.com Interview with:
Vertex Spokesperson
PainRelief.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Effective management of acute postoperative pain remains an ongoing challenge, with opioids continuing to serve as a mainstay despite their well-known risks, including nausea, constipation and the potential for misuse or addiction. Suzetrigine, brand name JOURNAVX, is a novel, selective NaV1.8 inhibitor that provides effective pain relief without engaging the brain’s reward system, meaning it has no addiction potential. JOURNAVX was approved earlier this year in the U.S. for the treatment of moderate-to-severe acute pain in adults.
Previous randomized, controlled studies demonstrated that JOURNAVX provided statistically significant postoperative pain relief compared to placebo and efficacy similar to a moderate-strength opioid. This study was designed to evaluate the real-world effectiveness and opioid-sparing potential of JOURNAVX when initiated preoperatively and used as part of multimodal therapy across a variety of aesthetic and reconstructive procedures.
PainRelief.com: How does suzetrigine differ from other pain medications?
Response: JOURNAVX is the first and only nonopioid oral pain signal inhibitor selective for NaV1.8, a voltage-gated sodium channel that is selectively expressed in peripheral pain-sensing neurons, where its role is to transmit pain signals. Because JOURNAVX blocks pain signals only found in the periphery, not in the brain, JOURNAVX provides effective relief of pain without the limitations of currently available therapies, including the addictive potential of opioids.
PainRelief.com: What are the main findings?
Response: Interim results from 62 participants showed that JOURNAVX, when used as part of multimodal therapy, provided effective postoperative pain control and substantially reduced the need for opioids. At the end of treatment, 93.4% of patients rated their pain management with JOURNAVX on a global pain assessment as good, very good or excellent. Notably, 88.7% of patients remained rescue opioid-free through the end of treatment – compared with fewer than 10% typically reported in previously published literature for similar surgeries. Among the few who required rescue opioids, most took only one to two tablets, and no patients initiated opioid use after 72 hours post-surgery. JOURNAVX was well tolerated, with adverse events generally mild or moderate and consistent with the postoperative setting.
Collectively, these findings suggest that when initiated before surgery, JOURNAVX can deliver effective pain relief while minimizing or eliminating the need for opioids. Full results from this study will be published at a future medical congress.
PainRelief.com: Does the medication need to be given post-op as well?
Response: In this study, participants received a preoperative 100 mg loading dose of JOURNAVX plus preoperative analgesics before surgery. Post-surgery, participants received 50 mg every 12 hours plus other analgesics as directed by the physician as part of multimodal therapy (acetaminophen and/or ibuprofen).
PainRelief.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Response: These data demonstrate the potential for using JOURNAVX before surgery and maintaining it postoperatively as part of multimodal pain management could help patients achieve effective pain relief without relying on opioids. Nearly nine out of ten patients in the study did not require any opioid rescue medication, highlighting the potential for JOURNAVX to transform postoperative care by enabling opioid-free recovery for many patients.
PainRelief.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Response: We look forward to sharing full results from the completed trial next year, which will provide additional insights into the role JOURNAVX could play as part of multimodal pain management. These results will help further inform how JOURNAVX can best support patients recovering from surgery, without relying on opioids.
PainRelief.com: Is there anything else you would like to add? Any disclosures?
Response: JOURNAVX represents an important advancement in acute pain management, offering patients effective pain control without the risks associated with opioids. These findings build on prior phase 3 evidence demonstrating JOURNAVX’s efficacy and safety profile. The study was funded by Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
For more information, including approved indication and important safety information, please visit www.JOURNAVX.com.
Citation:
Suzetrigine as Part of Multimodal Therapy (MMT) Enables Opioid-free Recovery After Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery
Abstract presented the annual scientific conference of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), held October 9–12, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
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Last Updated on November 14, 2025 by PainRelief.com