Suzetrigine: The first Nav1.8 inhibitor approved for the treatment of moderate to severe acute pain

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Opioids are commonly prescribed for the management of moderate to severe pain, but their use is associated with dependency and other adverse effects. For decades, the development of safe and effective non-addictive alternatives for treating moderate to severe pain has seen limited progress. On January 30, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved suzetrigine, the first Nav1.8 inhibitor, for the treatment of moderate to severe acute pain. Nav1.8 is a voltage-gated sodium channel that is selectively expressed in peripheral nociceptive neurons, which are responsible for transmitting pain signals. By highly selectively inhibiting the Nav1.8 channel, suzetrigine can effectively alleviate pain. Unlike opioids, this drug does not induce euphoria or excitement in the brain, thereby eliminating concerns about addiction. Suzetrigine offers a novel therapeutic option and a potential combination for multimodal analgesia, with the promise of transforming acute pain management and establishing new treatment standards.