Abstract

A REVIEW ARTICLE ON: SUZETRIGINE

*S. Azam Hussain

ABSTRACT

The opioid epidemic continues to devastate communities, particularly in the United States, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2022, drug overdose deaths reached a record high of nearly 108,000, with approximately 82,000 involving opioids. However, signs of stabilization emerged, with declines in heroin- and prescription opioid- related deaths by 36% and 12%, respectively. In 2023, the trend began to reverse, with overall overdose deaths decreasing slightly and opioid-related deaths falling from 84,181 in 2022 to 81,083; although fentanyl deaths declined, stimulant-related deaths rose, and geographic differences were stark across states. Most significantly, provisional 2024 data suggest a sharp 27% drop in total drug overdose deaths—the lowest since 2019—with estimated opioid deaths decreasing to 54,743, a decline potentially driven by broader naloxoneaccess, improved addiction treatment, and evolving drug use Patterns.[1,2] Regardless, this public health crisis has created an urgent need for effective non-opioid analgesics, yet therapeutic innovation has lagged significantly. Before suzetrigine’s approval in 2025, the most recent FDA-approved novel pain medication was celecoxib in 1998.[3] Suzetrigine (VX-548) represents a notable pharmacological development as the first selective Nav1.8 sodium channel blocker specifically developed for acute pain management.[4] This review synthesizes current evidence on suzetrigine’s mechanism of action, clinical efficacy, safety profile, and therapeutic potential.

Keywords: .