Overview

• Vertex discontinued development of its NaV1.8 inhibitor VX-993 for acute pain after a Phase 2 study failed to show a statistically significant improvement over placebo.
• Shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals dropped about 15% after the company announced the VX-993 trial miss and its decision to stop advancing the compound.
• The FDA indicated there is no clear path to a broad peripheral neuropathic pain label for Journavx, leading Vertex to cancel a planned late-stage sciatica study.
• Vertex plans to launch a second Phase 3 trial of Journavx in diabetic neuropathy and continues enrolling a Phase 2 study of VX-993 in the same indication.
• Journavx generated $12 million in second-quarter sales, beating forecasts, but analysts warn that NaV1.8 inhibitors may have reached their maximum efficacy potential.