Vertex's New Non-Opioid Painkiller VX-548 Shows Promise, But Raises Concerns

While the drug offers an alternative to addictive opioids, critics argue it could reinforce misconceptions about prescription opioid risks and encourage further crackdowns.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals is developing a new non-opioid analgesic, VX-548, which has shown effectiveness in relieving post-surgical pain in clinical trials.
Despite its effectiveness, VX-548 was found to be no more effective than a combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen, and less effective for certain types of surgeries.
Vertex contends that VX-548 warrants approval due to its lack of addiction potential, a major issue with current opioid medications.
However, critics argue that the introduction of VX-548 could reinforce misconceptions about the risks of prescription opioids and encourage further crackdowns on these medications.
Despite a 44% reduction in opioid prescriptions from 2011 to 2020, opioid-related deaths have nearly tripled in the same period, indicating that restrictions on opioid prescribing may be pushing users towards more dangerous black-market substitutes.