New data on Journavx (suzetrigine) demonstrates effective pain management following aesthetic and reconstructive procedures – Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced data from a Phase IV study of Journavx (suzetrigine), a prescription non-opioid pain signal inhibitor for the treatment of moderate-to-severe acute pain, in adults, that demonstrated effective pain management and enabled opioid-free recovery after a broad range of plastic surgical procedures. These data showed that the majority of patients (90.9%) in the study were opioid free through the end of treatment (up to 14 days), demonstrating the potential for Journavx as a core element of opioid-free multimodal treatment for moderate-to-severe acute pain after aesthetic and reconstructive procedures. In contrast, the literature shows opioid-free rates of less than 10% with multimodal treatment without Journavx.

This Phase IV open-label, multicenter, single-arm study evaluated Journavx when administered preoperatively and postoperatively as part of multimodal therapy, most commonly with acetaminophen and ibuprofen, in a range of reconstructive and aesthetic plastic surgeries where patients typically experience moderate-to-severe pain and are typically treated with opioid therapy for at least 72 hours postoperatively. The study dosed 99 patients who underwent aesthetic and reconstructive surgeries, including reconstructive and aesthetic breast surgeries, liposuction or abdominoplasty with liposuction, or turbinoplasties. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients who achieved excellent, very good or good on the Patient Global Assessment scale at the end of treatment. The study showed that 90.7% of patients (95% CI: 83.1%, 95.7%) rated the effectiveness of Journavx as part of multimodal treatment as excellent, very good or good. 90.9% of patients did not require any rescue opioids after surgery through the end of treatment (up to 14 days). Of the nine patients who received rescue opioids, the average use was approximately 2 tablets over 2 days.

Journavx was generally safe and well tolerated with no serious adverse events related to Journavx. Adverse events were mild or moderate in severity and consistent with the postoperative setting.

“As a surgeon, effective pain management is a cornerstone of patient recovery, and the data from this study highlight the potential of Journavx in enabling opioid-free recovery for patients across a broad range of surgeries,” said Samuel Lin, M.D., F.A.C.S., lead author of the study; Director of Aesthetic Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Chief of Plastic Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital—Needham; and Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School. “By integrating Journavx into a multimodal treatment approach, we are not only effectively managing pain but also potentially reducing the risks associated with opioid use, which is a critical advancement for both patients and the broader medical community.”

These data will be presented at the American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM) PainConnect 2026 meeting  in Salt Lake City, UT on 6 March 2026 as a poster presentation at 11:00 a.m. MT and part of the #6 Flash Talk presentation from 2:40–2:50 p.m. MT during the AAPM meeting.