Tag Archives: @VertexPharma

Acute Pain: Potential Impact of an Effective Non-Opioid Treatment to Reduce Opioid-Related Harm and Economic Burden

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PainRelief.com Interview with:
Vertex Spokesperson

PainRelief.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: This study had two primary aims: (1) to provide a contemporary estimate of the societal costs of the opioid epidemic, and (2) to quantify the portion of the opioid epidemic attributable to new prescription opioids for acute pain from 2025 onwards and evaluate the potential impact of an effective non-opioid pain medication for acute pain in reducing the burden associated with the US opioid epidemic.

The United States continues to grapple with a devastating opioid epidemic. Despite growing awareness of long-term opioid risks, nearly 40 million Americans continue to receive prescription opioids for acute pain each year, and even short-term use can lead to misuse, opioid use disorder (OUD), or overdose. In 2022 alone, nearly 108,000 people died from drug overdoses — about 82,000 (~76%) involving opioids.  Overall, it is estimated that the opioid epidemic will cost ~$370B in 2025 – more than double the commonly cited 2018 estimate of $180B.

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NEJM: Vertex Pharma Study Demonstrates Potential for First-in-Class Non-Opioid Treatment For Moderate to Severe Acute Pain

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PainRelief.com Interview with:
Vertex Pharma Company Spokesperson

PainRelief.com: What is the background for this study? How does VX-548 work?

Response: VX-548 is an oral, selective NaV1.8 inhibitor that is highly selective for NaV1.8 relative to other NaV channels. NaV1.8 is a voltage-gated sodium channel that plays a critical role in pain signaling in the peripheral nervous system. NaV1.8 is a genetically validated target for the treatment of pain, and Vertex has previously demonstrated clinical proof-of-concept with a small molecule investigational treatment targeting NaV1.8 in multiple pain indications including acute pain, neuropathic pain and musculoskeletal pain.

 Vertex’s approach is to selectively inhibit NaV1.8 using small molecules with the objective of creating a new class of medicines that have the potential to provide superior relief of pain without the limitations of opioids, including their addictive potential. VX-548 is the most advanced NaV1.8 inhibitor in Vertex’s program.

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