Vertex Pharmaceuticals reports Phase 4 study data showing JOURNAVX (suzetrigine) enabled opioid-free recovery in 90.9% of patients after aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgeries.
Written By: Karthik Teja, PharmD
Reviewed By: Pharmacally Editorial Team
Vertex Pharmaceuticals reported new Phase 4 data showing that its non-opioid pain therapy JOURNAVX (suzetrigine) enabled opioid-free recovery in the majority of patients undergoing aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgeries.
The results will be presented at the American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM) Pain Connect 2026 meeting, held March 5–8 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The open-label, multicenter, single-arm Phase 4 study evaluated JOURNAVX administered before and after surgery as part of a multimodal pain management regimen, most commonly combined with acetaminophen and ibuprofen. The trial enrolled 99 adults undergoing procedures associated with moderate-to-severe postoperative pain, including breast reconstruction or aesthetic breast surgery, liposuction or abdominoplasty with liposuction, and turbinoplasty.
The primary endpoint measured the proportion of patients rating treatment effectiveness as excellent, very good, or good on the Patient Global Assessment scale at the end of treatment. Results showed that 90.7% of patients reported positive pain control outcomes.
90.9% of participants remained opioid-free through the end of treatment, which lasted up to 14 days. Among the small number of patients who required rescue opioids, the average use was about two tablets over two days.
JOURNAVX was generally well tolerated in the study, with no serious adverse events related to the therapy. Reported adverse events were mild to moderate and consistent with typical postoperative recovery.
Samuel Lin, M.D., Director of Aesthetic Surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School, said the findings demonstrate the potential for JOURNAVX to support opioid-free recovery across a broad range of surgical procedures while maintaining effective pain control.
JOURNAVX (suzetrigine) is a first-in-class oral pain signal inhibitor designed to selectively block the NaV1.8 voltage-gated sodium channel, which is expressed in peripheral pain-sensing neurons. By targeting peripheral pain pathways rather than the central nervous system, the therapy aims to provide effective analgesia without the addictive risks associated with opioids.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved twice-daily JOURNAVX in January 2025 for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe acute pain, including postoperative pain.
JOURNAVX has attracted significant attention since its approval and is widely regarded as one of the notable pharmaceutical innovations of 2025 due to its differentiated approach to pain management compared with traditional opioid therapies. The therapy has received broad industry recognition and was featured in TIME magazine’s Best Inventions of 2025 list in the pharmaceuticals category, highlighting its potential impact on the treatment of acute pain and efforts to reduce reliance on opioids.
For complete safety information, including adverse reactions, warnings, and precautions, refer to the U.S. Prescribing Information (USPI). For more details on how to take JOURNAVX and other patient guidance, refer to the Patient Information leaflet.
Reference
Vertex to Present New Data on JOURNAVX® That Demonstrates Effective Pain Management Following Aesthetic and Reconstructive Procedures, 05 March 2026, Vertex to Present New Data on JOURNAVX® That Demonstrates Effective Pain Management Following Aesthetic and Reconstructive Procedures | Vertex Pharmaceuticals
JOURNAVX, Prescribing Information, uspi_suzetrigine.pdf
Patient Information, Journavx, patientpackageinsert_suzetrigine.pdf
About Writer
Karthik Teja, PharmD
He is a Pharm.D. graduate with a strong interest in clinical research, pharmacovigilance, and medical writing. In his words, he is passionate about converting complex medical information into clear, evidence-based scientific communication, committed to contributing to patient safety and advancing healthcare through accurate and impactful medical content.