Vertex COO Stuart Arbuckle to Retire as Company Launches Groundbreaking Pain Drug Journavx

Stuart Arbuckle, Chief Operating Officer of Vertex Pharmaceuticals, will retire on July 1, 2025, after more than 12 years with the company3.

The FDA approved Vertex's non-opioid pain drug Journavx (suzetrigine) on January 30, 2025, for the treatment of moderate-to-severe acute pain in adults8.

Journavx is the first new class of pain medicine approved in more than 20 years and is positioned as an alternative to opioid-based therapies8 5.

Vertex has priced Journavx at $15.50 per pill, or about $30 per day, which is significantly higher than generic opioids5.

The drug works by blocking a pain-signaling protein found almost exclusively in nerve cells outside the brain and spine, and is thought to not have addictive properties5.

Vertex's 2024 product revenue increased 12% to $11.02 billion, with the company projecting 2025 total revenue between $11.75 billion and $12 billion10.

As part of the planned transition, Charlie Wagner, current Chief Financial Officer, will assume the additional role of Chief Operating Officer, while Duncan McKechnie will become Chief Commercial Officer10.

The approval and launch of Journavx come at a time when the healthcare system is seeking alternatives to opioids due to the ongoing overdose crisis1.