Science Friday
FDA Approves A New, Non-Opioid Painkiller | Deep, Multi-Layer Oceans On Uranus And Neptune?
Feb 17, 2025
Sean Mackey, a Stanford pain management professor, discusses the FDA's groundbreaking approval of Journavx, a non-opioid painkiller that blocks nerve endings without addiction risks. He explains who would benefit and the drug's limitations. Burkhardt Militzer, a UC Berkeley planetary scientist, shares exciting insights about potential multi-layered oceans beneath Neptune and Uranus, suggesting they may explain the planets' strange magnetic fields. This intriguing merger of health and space exploration opens new avenues for scientific understanding.
24:18
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Quick takeaways
- The FDA's approval of Journavx marks a crucial shift in pain management by providing a non-addictive alternative to opioids that targets peripheral nerves.
- Research suggests Uranus and Neptune may contain multi-layered oceans, challenging existing theories about their inner structures and magnetic fields.
Deep dives
Introduction of Gernavex: A New Non-Addictive Pain Medication
The recent FDA approval of Gernavex marks a significant advancement in pain management, as it is the first new pain medication approved in 25 years. Unlike opioids, Gernavex works by selectively targeting peripheral sensory nerves through the blocking of specific sodium channels, specifically NAV 1.8. This targeted approach aims to minimize the risk of side effects on vital organs and eliminates the potential for addiction, a major concern with opioid use. The medication demonstrates a mild effectiveness compared to placebo, prompting discussions about its role as a complementary treatment alongside existing pain relief strategies.
