The Brief The FDA approved Journavx, the first new pain medication in over 20 years, as a non-opioid alternative for post-surgery pain. The drug, developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, blocks pain ...

Vertex began researching the drug in the 2000s, when overdoses were rocketing upward, principally driven by mass prescribing of opioid painkillers for common ailments like arthritis and back pain.

Vertex wants to interrupt pain signals before they reach the brain, and because its non-opioid drug would bypass the central nervous system, it would provide pain relief without the risk of addiction.

The pain pill is designed to eliminate the risks of addiction and overdose associated with opioid medications. AP The new drug will carry a list price of $15.50 per pill, making it many times more ...