Vertex And Jayson Tatum Partner To Raise Awareness Of JOURNAVX®, A First-in-Class Non-Opioid Pain Medicine

Vertex Pharmaceuticals, has partnered with basketball world champion Jayson Tatum to spotlight JOURNAVX® (suzetrigine), the first new class of prescription pain medicine approved in over 20 years. JOURNAVX is a non-opioid treatment designed for adults with moderate-to-severe acute pain, offering an alternative to conventional therapies often associated with risks such as opioid addiction.

"I have dealt with pain and played through it quite a bit over the course of my career, but tearing my Achilles was something I never thought would happen to me. With the intensity of this surgery and recovery, I knew I would need a different approach to managing the pain given the side effects I initially experienced with the opioid pain medication that my surgeon prescribed me. I took JOURNAVX as a non-opioid alternative, and it worked in effectively managing my pain. My hope is that by sharing my story, people will see they’re not alone in wanting new options to treat their short-term pain and should feel empowered to talk with their doctor about JOURNAVX to see if it’s right for them,” said Tatum. 

Tatum, who suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon during the 2025 playoffs and underwent immediate surgery, is now publicly sharing his personal journey of injury and recovery. He highlights how JOURNAVX played a key role in effectively managing his acute post-surgical pain and maintaining his determination to return to the basketball court. The collaboration aims to educate patients and raise awareness about safer, innovative approaches to pain management.

“We’re proud to partner with Jayson Tatum, a world-class athlete, philanthropist, and father. By sharing his personal story and JOURNAVX experience, Jayson is empowering others to be proactive with their doctors about pain management and discuss whether JOURNAVX is right for them,” said Duncan McKechnie, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Vertex. 

JOURNAVX works by selectively blocking the NaV1.8 sodium channel found in peripheral pain-sensing neurons, preventing pain signals from reaching the brain. This mechanism allows JOURNAVX to deliver pain relief without affecting the central nervous system, reducing concerns tied to opioids and other pain treatments. Approved by the U.S. FDA on January 30, 2025, JOURNAVX is administered twice daily and marks a major advancement in the field of non-opioid pain medicines.

"In my practice, I've operated on thousands of patients with a wide range of injuries including many elite athletes, and for each of my patients, post-operative pain management is a crucial conversation. Because of the side effects that Jayson experienced with opioids and his desire to not take them, we chose JOURNAVX to treat Jayson’s postoperative pain, and it worked in effectively managing his pain. I'm glad to have this vital non-opioid treatment option in my toolbox," said Martin J. O'Malley MD, Clinical Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery.