Why Vertex Pharmaceuticals stock is #1 on the market today

The lab’s good news sparked a small rally. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX 2.35%) In stock on Tuesday. The biotech stock ended the trading session with its price up more than 2%, enough to push it above flat levels. S&P 500 index. One of the company’s investigational drugs is showing significant promise in clinical trials.

Analgesics met the primary endpoint in the study.

Vertex announced that VX-548, a non-opioid drug aimed at treating moderate to severe acute pain, met the primary endpoint in a Phase 3 trial in patients with a wide range of pain conditions.

The biotech said the treatment met its primary endpoint of significant pain reduction over 48 hours. That was good news. The bad news is that VX-548 did not meet the secondary endpoint of reducing pain more significantly than the combination of acetaminophen and the opioid hydrocodone used in over-the-counter treatments like Tylenol.

Vertex added that the drug demonstrated good safety and tolerability in studies. In total, approximately 2,400 patients participated in the trial.

If an effective non-opioid pain treatment were to come to market, it would likely be very successful. Opioid medications can be very effective, but they carry a very serious risk of addiction if not prescribed and administered carefully.

Important steps toward approval

In a press release about the trial, Vertex pledged to continue working toward approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“With FDA Breakthrough and Fast Track designation, we are working with urgency to file a New Drug Application for VX-548 and bring this non-opioid medication to the millions of patients suffering from acute pain each year,” said CEO Reshma Kewalramani. said. in America”