Vertex Pharma scientist talks about the long road to developing non-addictive painkillers
Associated PressWASHINGTON — For decades, patients seeking medication for pain have had two choices: over-the-counter drugs like aspirin or powerful prescription opioids like oxycodone. Patients taking the drug after surgery experienced more pain relief than those getting a placebo, although the drug didn’t meet a secondary goal of outperforming treatment with an opioid. Identifying additional medicines that could be used for people who need more pain relief but don’t want to take the risks of opioids would be helpful for society. Addictive medicines typically work in the brain and they have side effects that aren’t really separable from the reduction in pain, because they’re the same thing. We’ve reported three studies in people with acute pain — things like surgery or an injury — all three studies were positive, all three studies showed substantial reduction of pain of about 50%.
History of this topic
Vertex: New non-opioid painkiller Journavx approved by FDA
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FDA approves new painkiller that shows promise and challenges of opioid alternatives
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FDA approves painkiller designed to eliminate the risk of addiction associated with opioids
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Body matters: New insights into the world of pain
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The curse of the people who never feel pain
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