On January 30, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first new type
of pain reliever in more than two decades. The 50-milligram oral tablet is the first drug in a new
category of pain medicines that is designed to treat moderate to severe acute pain in adults. It
works by targeting a pain-signaling pathway involving sodium channels in the peripheral
nervous system, intercepting pain signals before they reach the brain.
The introduction of a new non-opioid analgesic presents an opportunity to reduce the risks
associated with opioid use by providing patients with an additional treatment option.
In two clinical trials involving nearly 600 participants, the new medication controlled post-
surgical pain effectively and performed similarly to current hydrocodone/acetaminophen
treatments, reducing pain by about 50%, from an average score of 7 to around 3.5 on a 0–10
scale. However, in a third study on sciatica-related back pain, it was no more effective than a
placebo, suggesting it may not be as useful for chronic pain.
Learn more here.