By Connor Hart

Vertex Pharmaceuticals said a new drug submission for its treatment for moderate to severe acute pain has been accepted for review by Health Canada.

The biotechnology company said Thursday that the therapy, suzetrigine, if approved could be the first new class of medicine in Canada to treat acute pain in over 20 years.

Suzetrigine inhibits NaV1.8 currents, a voltage-gated sodium channel that has garnered attention because of its pivotal role in pain signaling. The treatment isn't an opioid or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, it represents a new class of oral pain medicine, Vertex said.

"Today's acceptance of our NDS for suzetrigine represents an important step in our mission to transform pain management in Canada," said Michael Siauw, general manager of Vertex Canada.

Suzetrigine was approved in January 2025 by the Food and Drug Administration, with the application receiving breakthrough therapy, fast track and priority review designations, Vertex said.

Write to Connor Hart at connor.hart@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 21, 2026 13:28 ET (17:28 GMT)

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