Vertex Ends VX-993 Development After Phase II Failure

Vertex Pharmaceuticals has halted the development of its acute pain drug VX-993 after it failed to meet primary endpoints in a Phase II trial (NCT06619860). The NaV1.8 inhibitor, developed as a successor to the recently approved Journavx (suzetrigine), did not achieve clinically significant pain reduction within 48 hours, showing only a 24.3 SPID48 score decrease versus placebo. In contrast, Journavx had delivered significant pain relief in the NAVIGATE 2 trial for post-bunionectomy patients.

The setback prompted Vertex to abandon VX-993 as a monotherapy for diabetic peripheral neuropathy and pause its planned Phase III trial in lumbosacral radiculopathy. Regulatory feedback also limited the scope of Journavx, stalling expansion into peripheral neuropathy. These developments triggered a 13.24% drop in Vertex’s stock.

Despite a lucrative $120.7bn forecast for the pain market, innovation in post-operative pain treatments remains stagnant, with a pressing need for effective non-opioid therapies.

10-08-2025