"Vertex's Non-Opioid Breakthrough Sparks Record High Amidst Opioid Crisis"
Vertex Pharmaceuticals reported positive Phase 2 study results for its pain drug aimed at treating diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), a long-term complication of diabetes. The study showed a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in patients' reported pain levels across all doses of the drug. More than 30% of patients achieved a 50% or greater reduction in pain, and the drug was well-tolerated with no serious adverse events. Vertex plans to advance the development of the drug and hopes it will become an alternative treatment to prescribing opioids for pain management. Vertex stock rallied over 7% on the news.