Millions of people suffer from chronic pain, and they are looking for a way to find relief. Oftentimes, the first line of treatment involves opioid medications, which can be addictive. This has created an interest in finding an alternative medication that will provide pain relief without being addictive or putting people at high risk for health issues. A new non-opioid medication has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, which may be what people have been waiting for.
The new medication, called Suzetrigine, is a pain signal inhibitor that treats moderate to severe pain. It was put to the test first in vitro on human proteins. Following the success of those studies, it was tested on rats and monkeys to see if it was both effective and safe, proving to be both of those things. The results of the study are published in the January 2025 issue of Pain Therapy and give insight into the mechanism behind the drug, along with its potential to help those suffering from chronic pain [1].
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The medication has been designed to target voltage-gated sodium channel 1.8, which are membrane proteins that control the flow of sodium ions across the cell membranes. They play a critical role in helping to transmit pain signals, which has made them a prime target for those working on pain management options. By targeting those membrane proteins effectively, pain signals will decrease.
Suzetrigine works by inhibiting protein binding, leading to the channel’s closing. Nearly 2,500 participants contributed to the third phase of testing the drug, providing the information researchers needed to conclude that it is safe and effective for people to use for moderate to severe pain. They also found no adverse reactions from the medicine in the central nervous system.
This is considered the first in a new class of non-opioid drugs to help people with pain without there being the potential for being addictive. This offers hope to many people who need pharmaceuticals to help with their chronic pain management. They may be able to get relief without having to worry about adverse side effects or that they may become addicted.
According to the National Institutes of Health, opioids are addictive, and their use is a major driver of the drug overdose crisis in the U.S. Repeated opioid use, they report, can lead to dependence [2]. Once a person’s body adapts to the drug, it may respond less to it, which makes the person take more of it to achieve the same result, which puts them at a greater risk for adverse health effects.
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This article was originally published on Confronting Chronic Pain by Dr. Steven Richeimer, Director Pain Medicine and Pain Science Certificates.
References
1. Pain Therapy. Pharmacology and Mechanism of Action of Suzetrigine, a Potent and Selective NaV1.8 Pain Signal Inhibitor for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Pain. January 2025.
2. National Institutes of Health. Opioids.
