The drug, shown to be almost as effective as opioids for short-term pain, is the first fundamentally new kind of painkiller to win FDA approval in more than 20 years.

For the first time in 20 years, the Food and Drug Administration has approved a new pharmaceutical approach to treating pain. On January 31, the FDA approved Journavx as a non-opioid treatment for moderate to severe acute pain.

The FDA on Thursday approved a new class of pain medication that provides an alternative to opioids. It will be sold under the brand name Journavx.