Vertex Announces Advancements of Suzetrigine (VX-548) in Acute and Neuropathic Pain - Seite 2

Next Steps for the Pain Portfolio

In line with its pain portfolio serial innovation strategy, Vertex continues to advance preclinical and clinical development of additional NaV1.8 and NaV1.7 pain signal inhibitors, for use alone or in combination, in acute and neuropathic pain. The company intends to advance its next generation NaV1.8 pain signal inhibitor VX-993 oral formulation into Phase 2 acute pain and peripheral neuropathic pain studies later this year. Vertex also anticipates initiating a Phase 1 study of an intravenous formulation of VX-993 later this year.

About Acute Pain

Acute pain is a disabling condition and is defined as pain lasting less than 3 months. It is estimated that over 80 million people are prescribed a medicine for acute pain every year in the U.S. Due to limited treatment options, there is an unmet need in acute pain management to improve the patient experience and reduce the economic and societal burden.

About Peripheral Neuropathic Pain

Peripheral neuropathic pain, or PNP, is a significant area of unmet need for patients suffering from pain. PNP is a collection of chronic conditions including pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), lumbosacral radiculopathy (LSR), small fiber neuropathy and trigeminal neuralgia. DPN and LSR are two of the largest segments within the estimated 10 million patients who are prescribed a medicine for PNP every year in the U.S.

About Suzetrigine (VX-548)

Suzetrigine (formerly VX-548) is an investigational oral, selective NaV1.8 pain signal inhibitor that is highly selective for NaV1.8 relative to other NaV channels. NaV1.8 is a voltage-gated sodium channel that plays a critical role in pain signaling in the peripheral nervous system. NaV1.8 is a genetically validated target for the treatment of pain, and suzetrigine has demonstrated a favorable benefit/risk profile in three Phase 3 studies and two Phase 2 studies in moderate-to-severe acute pain. Suzetrigine also demonstrated positive results and a well-tolerated profile in a Phase 2 study in patients with pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, a type of peripheral neuropathic pain. Vertex’s approach is to selectively inhibit NaV1.8 using small molecules with the objective of creating a new class of pain signal inhibitors that have the potential to provide effective relief of pain without the limitations of currently available therapies, including the addictive potential of opioids.