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 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.

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.