Vertex sees strong demand for non-opioid pain drug Journavx

USA – Vertex Pharmaceuticals is seeing early success with its newly approved non-opioid pain drug, Journavx, which has already racked up around 25,000 prescriptions since gaining FDA approval in January.

The drug works by targeting specific sodium channels in the nerves, stopping pain signals before they reach the brain. This sets it apart from opioids, which act on the central nervous system and carry a high risk of addiction.

Journavx has shown in trials that it can deliver pain relief comparable to common opioid combinations like hydrocodone-acetaminophen, particularly after surgeries such as abdominoplasty and bunionectomy.

With over 20,000 prescriptions already filled, demand suggests that patients and doctors are eager for safer pain management options.

Truist Securities analysts noted that Journavx is off to a strong start and could become a bigger driver of revenue in the second half of the year.They project a 15% market share in U.S. acute pain and expect peak sales of $1.6 billion by 2033.

Still, the road ahead has challenges. Journavx’s price tag of US $15.50 per pill is far higher than generic opioids, potentially limiting access. It also takes two to four hours to reach full effect, meaning patients may need to take it in advance of surgery.

Coverage by insurance is another hurdle. So far, only one major pharmacy benefit manager—Optum Rx—has added Journavx to its list, and even then, it’s on a high-cost tier that may mean bigger out-of-pocket expenses.

Vertex is working to broaden coverage with other large PBMs, including Cigna and CVS Caremark, while also exploring the drug’s use in chronic pain.

However, early studies in that area have shown mixed results, with Journavx not performing better than a placebo.

The company shared its first-quarter 2025 results this week, showing revenue of US $2.77 billion—up 3% from last year but slightly below Wall Street estimates.

Analysts attribute the shortfall to the launch phase of another new drug, Alyftrek, for cystic fibrosis (CF), and a few temporary setbacks.

Despite this, Vertex remains optimistic and raised its full-year revenue forecast to between US $11.85 billion and US $12 billion.

Vertex is also continuing to grow its CF portfolio, which remains its core business, even as Alyftrek rolls out slowly amid questions over whether it offers a clear improvement over the company’s blockbuster drug Trikafta.