Federal officials on Thursday approved a new type of pain pill designed to eliminate the risks of addiction and overdose associated with opioid medications like Vicodin and OxyContin. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it approved Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ Journavx for short-term pain that often follows surgery or injuries.

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 U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new non-opioid pain medication developed by the Massachusetts-based company Vertex Pharmaceuticals on Thursday. The drug, which is called suzetrigine and will be sold under the brand name Journavx, is the first new type of pain medicine approved by the agency in more than 20 years.