The opioid crisis has left a lasting mark on how we think about pain management. For decades, opioids were prescribed as the primary option for moderate to severe pain. While effective, they also brought devastating consequences—tolerance, dependence, addiction, and overdose deaths that continue to climb. Today, biotech companies are leading a new movement: creating non-opioid medications designed to relieve pain without the risks of traditional opioids.
Opioids work by binding to receptors in the brain and nervous system, blocking pain signals while also activating the brain’s reward system. Over time, tolerance develops, requiring higher doses and increasing the risk of misuse. The result has been three devastating waves of opioid-related deaths since the late 1990s: prescription opioids, heroin, and most recently fentanyl.
According to the CDC, more than 75% of overdose deaths in 2021 involved opioids. Without major intervention, the Stanford-Lancet Commission estimates 1.2 million people in the U.S. and Canada could die from opioid overdoses by the end of this decade. This sobering reality is driving biotech companies to prioritize safer alternatives.
In January 2025, Vertex Pharmaceuticals announced FDA approval for Journavx (suzetrigine), a selective NaV1.8 inhibitor. Unlike opioids, which act on the brain’s receptors, Journavx blocks pain at the source in peripheral sensory neurons.
Clinical trials showed that patients who took Journavx after surgery reported meaningful, rapid, and sustained pain reduction compared to placebo. While it did not outperform opioid combinations like Vicodin in every measure, its efficacy was comparable, and it came without the addictive risk. Vertex expects nationwide availability in early 2025 and is also exploring other uses, such as treating nerve compression pain in the lower back.
Read Vertex’s approval announcement.
In January 2025, Tris Pharma reported strong Phase 3 trial results for cebranopadol, tested in patients after abdominoplasty surgery. The drug significantly reduced pain intensity within 44 hours and showed a safety profile comparable to placebo.
Cebranopadol uses a dual mechanism, acting on both NOP and MOP receptors, which play complementary roles in pain biology. If approved, it would be the first drug of its kind, opening the door to new treatment strategies for acute and potentially chronic pain.
Algiax Pharmaceuticals shared encouraging Phase 2a results for its candidate AP-325 in February 2025. The drug, aimed at post-surgical neuropathic pain, reduced pain quickly and sustained improvements beyond treatment. Patients also reported better sleep and reduced anxiety and depression.
AP-325 works by modulating the GABAA receptor, one of the central nervous system’s key neurotransmitters. With up to 70% of patients responding in the trial, AP-325 could address an area where opioids have little effect.
In 2024, Levicept announced positive Phase 2 results for LEVI-04, a drug designed to treat osteoarthritis pain by restoring neurotrophin balance. In a trial of over 500 participants, LEVI-04 reduced pain by more than 50% compared to placebo and also improved function and joint stiffness.
Importantly, the drug showed no increase in progressive osteoarthritis, a concern with some treatments. These results highlight its potential as a safe and effective long-term therapy.
Fresh out of stealth in 2024 with $135 million in funding, Latigo Biotherapeutics is developing LTG-001, another NaV1.8 inhibitor. Early Phase 1 data showed rapid absorption, strong tolerability, and the potential to avoid central nervous system side effects.
Latigo is positioning LTG-001 as a treatment for both acute and chronic pain, with follow-up trials underway. The company is also advancing a second NaV1.8 inhibitor, LTG-305, with results expected in 2025.
Developing pain medications has never been easy, and non-opioid drugs face particular challenges:
One supportive policy is the NOPAIN Act, which provides separate Medicare payments for non-opioid drugs, potentially improving access for patients.
According to Grand View Research, the non-opioid pain treatment market was valued at $38.6 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow at 8.3% annually through 2030. This growth will be fueled by rising R&D investments, government initiatives, and public demand for safer alternatives.
While most novel drug candidates remain in early stages, the progress from Vertex, Tris, Algiax, Levicept, and Latigo suggests more approvals could arrive in the next few years. Each new drug adds diversity to the treatment toolkit and brings the industry closer to reducing reliance on opioids.
The shift toward non-opioid pain relief represents one of the most important changes in modern medicine. Though hurdles remain, recent breakthroughs show that effective, non-addictive pain management is possible.
As biotech companies continue advancing these therapies, the future could hold a wide range of new options—giving patients and physicians safer alternatives and moving healthcare further away from its dependence on opioids.
New venture capital firm to create and invest in early-stage healthcare companies applying novel technologies to frontier biology and redefine patient care
Radiopharmaceuticals are emerging as the future of cancer care, combining targeted precision with powerful radiation to deliver safer, more effective treatments.
Join us in building the future of medicine through innovative technology and biology convergence
