Vertex's Non-Opioid Painkiller Shows Promising Results in Mid-Stage Trial

The drug, VX-548, significantly reduced chronic nerve pain in diabetes patients, supporting hopes for a non-addictive alternative to opioids.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals' non-opioid painkiller, VX-548, has shown positive results in a mid-stage trial, significantly reducing pain in diabetes patients suffering from a chronic nerve condition.
The drug has the potential to provide strong pain relief without the addictive potential of opioids, a significant development in the pharmaceutical industry.
The trial results support Vertex's hopes of developing a drug that could become a blockbuster, with annual sales exceeding $1 billion.
Vertex is planning to advance the drug to a late-stage trial and is also testing the medication for acute pain, with data due in the first quarter of next year.
The company's stock jumped 10% following the release of the mid-stage trial data, and shares are up nearly 40% this year.