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New peripheral neuropathy drug gets FDA advance

Posted by proteusx @proteusx, Aug 3, 2024

FDA has just accepted Vertex’s New Drug Application related to suzetrigine for priority review in late January, 2025. The drug appears likely to be approved. Here us an excerpt from a Vertex communication:

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 is selectively expressed in peripheral pain-sensing neurons (nociceptors), where its role is to transmit pain signals (action potentials). 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 patients with 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 chronic 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.

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raebaby | @raebaby | 2 days ago

That's great that you are dealing with the PN so well. I didn't have any luck with the TENS either. It only helped with the numbness at the immediate time of treatment. I don't have the same amount of numbness I did originally. Maybe the nerves regenerated a bit. I also use VoxxLife patches that help my balance. Perhaps I should attribute some of it to that.
I have neuropathy in one hand, on three fingers. Very weird. I don't even notice it.
I'm old and live out alone in the country and other than during my sons' visits I have to be very careful not to fall

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NJ Ed | @njed | 2 days ago
In reply to @cit10jetjockey "I’ve had PN for years now and I have no pain, just weakness and tingling in..." + (show)
@cit10jetjockey

I’ve had PN for years now and I have no pain, just weakness and tingling in my feet. I also have balance issues. I take zero meds for my PN. Why do soooo many people have pain issues and I don’t? I had to retire early as I didn’t have the strength to get the left brake pedal down hard enough and when you’re landing on a 6000 ft runway at 120kts. You have to get it stopped. There’ll never be a cure for this crap.

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I have the same, numbness, poor balance and zero pain. I've been curious for years about two things. First, why do some people suffer from pain and others do not? Second, why does PN affect most people in their mid to late 50's, and mainly 60's and 70's. With idiopathic PN, is age a trigger but the cause is from something years prior to be diagnosed with PN. I agree with you at this point, a cure is doubtful but perhaps not impossible.... someday.

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | 2 days ago
In reply to @njed "I have the same, numbness, poor balance and zero pain. I've been curious for years about..." + (show)
@njed

I have the same, numbness, poor balance and zero pain. I've been curious for years about two things. First, why do some people suffer from pain and others do not? Second, why does PN affect most people in their mid to late 50's, and mainly 60's and 70's. With idiopathic PN, is age a trigger but the cause is from something years prior to be diagnosed with PN. I agree with you at this point, a cure is doubtful but perhaps not impossible.... someday.

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Ed I've had those same thoughts for many years. The pain I have is not neuropathy but is more old age and degenerative arthritis. I think part of the answer on the neuropathy end is the cause not being known. If you have lots of time and like digging into stuff, the metabolic syndrome and it's connection with neuropathy is kind of interesting. I think it also explains a lot about being told your pre-diabetic and nothing is mentioned by your doctors about the metabolic syndrome.

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NJ Ed | @njed | 2 days ago
In reply to @johnbishop "Ed I've had those same thoughts for many years. The pain I have is not neuropathy..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Ed I've had those same thoughts for many years. The pain I have is not neuropathy but is more old age and degenerative arthritis. I think part of the answer on the neuropathy end is the cause not being known. If you have lots of time and like digging into stuff, the metabolic syndrome and it's connection with neuropathy is kind of interesting. I think it also explains a lot about being told your pre-diabetic and nothing is mentioned by your doctors about the metabolic syndrome.

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John...interesting to say the least. I will definitely check into the metabolic syndrome connection. My GP told me 10 years ago that I was pre-diabetic. Yet, my tests show in normal levels.

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proteusx | @proteusx | 1 day ago
In reply to @njed "I have the same, numbness, poor balance and zero pain. I've been curious for years about..." + (show)
@njed

I have the same, numbness, poor balance and zero pain. I've been curious for years about two things. First, why do some people suffer from pain and others do not? Second, why does PN affect most people in their mid to late 50's, and mainly 60's and 70's. With idiopathic PN, is age a trigger but the cause is from something years prior to be diagnosed with PN. I agree with you at this point, a cure is doubtful but perhaps not impossible.... someday.

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There are recent data indicating that , in the case of diabetic related peripheral neuropathy, blood glucose "time-in-range" correlates with the severity of PN and the presence or absence of pain. Hence the value of continuous glucose monitoring, as opposed to HbA1c monitoring. The more you can stay in the "safe" glucose range on a daily basis the better your prognosis may be. For most diabetics, the damage is already quite severe and very difficult to reverse by the time they are diagnosed. And, in my opinion, HbA1c is often the culprit, giving a false sense of security, sometimes for years while damage is accumulating. The paper linked below seems to agree with me on this issue . You can now get FDA cleared over-the-counter continuous glucose monitors at a reasonable price and with a reasonable level of accuracy.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35394566/

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