What’s the Journavx® Buzz About?

It’s only been a few months since the FDA approved Journavx^®—a novel, non-opioid treatment for acute pain—and already patients are asking for it by name. Approved in January 2025, Journavx is making waves among physicians and patients alike for its potential to address moderate-to-severe acute pain without the risk of addiction.

Journavx, developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, is a selective Nav1.8 sodium channel inhibitor that targets pain signaling. In a Phase III trial for acute pain, it significantly outperformed placebo: patients reported a 1-point reduction (using the Nurses' Perception of Patient Rounding Scale) in pain within 34 minutes (vs. none on placebo) and a 2-point drop in 119 minutes (vs. 488 minutes with control). The drug was well tolerated, with nausea as the most common side effect, occurring less often than with placebo or hydrocodone/acetaminophen.