Vertex reports positive trial results for acute pain candidate VX-548

1 April 2022

Champion of treatments for cystic fibrosis (CF), US drugmaker Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: VRTX) has been moving to diversify its product offerings, and today announced positive results from two Phase II proof-of-concept (POC) studies that investigated treatment with the selective NaV1.8 inhibitor VX-548 for acute pain following abdominoplasty surgery or bunionectomy surgery.

This is Vertex’ fourth attempt to develop a sodium channel Nav1.8 inhibitor, after VX-128, VX-150 and VX-961 failed to impress, but the latest attempt did to a certain extent, with the firm’s shares up 1.7% at $260.97 on Thursday.

Pain represents Vertex’ bid to go beyond it CF comfort zone, but Stifel analysts cautioned that the area might not fit into the company’s high-margin business.

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