INSIGHT. Nerve pain has long been considered difficult to treat. Current medications often provide inadequate relief and are associated with side effects such as fatigue, dizziness, and risk of addiction. At the same time, the patient population is growing rapidly, driven primarily by diabetes-related nerve damage (neuropathy), which affects up to half of all people with diabetes. The global market for nerve pain treatment is estimated at USD 7–8 billion and is expected to nearly double to USD 15 billion within ten years.
Against this backdrop, the field has become a strategic focus for both large pharmaceutical companies and specialised biotech companies. A new generation of treatments with targeted mechanisms is now being developed, with the aim of providing effective pain relief without the traditional drawbacks.
In early 2025, the FDA approved suzetrigine from Vertex Pharmaceuticals, an entirely new type of pain medication and the first in its class in over two decades. Suzetrigine is a selective inhibitor of NaV1.8, a sodium channel linked to pain signalling. Meanwhile, companies such as Eli Lilly and Biogen have made billion-dollar acquisitions to gain access to promising clinical-stage projects, including SiteOne Therapeutics and Convergence Pharmaceuticals.
Research also suggests that several conditions – including nerve pain, migraine, and chronic cough – share a common denominator: sensory hypersensitivity. This means the nervous system becomes oversensitive and reacts strongly to otherwise harmless signals. As a result, certain drug candidates may find broader application across multiple indications. With new scientific insights, a deeper understanding of nervous system sensitivity, and a pipeline of innovative treatments, we may be on the verge of a shift, where patients can achieve effective relief without paying the price in severe side effects. At the same time, new opportunities are emerging to treat conditions that have previously lacked good alternatives.
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