Lindsey Vonn knows more than most about pain. Spending years training as an elite alpine ski racer puts enough pressure on your body, but Vonn’s injuries and her major crash earlier this year that nearly saw her lose her leg put her at a different level.
This makes her the perfect spokesperson for Vertex’s non-opioid pain drug Journavx. The drug, which was FDA approved at the start of last year, is seeking to usher in a new era of nonaddictive therapy when it comes to pain management.
Journavx is cleared for adults with moderate to severe acute pain, which is usually short-term and often results from surgery or an injury. Opioids and other analgesics are often prescribed to treat the pain, but their use can lead to addiction.
Vonn, a U.S. Olympic gold medal-winning athlete and world champion, had hoped to bring home another medal in the downhill event at the Winter Games this year, but during a run she suffered a severe, complex leg fracture and ankle break that have required multiple surgeries to repair.
“I have experienced countless injuries throughout my career, and I’m no stranger to the pain that comes along with them,” Vonn said in a statement.
“After my injury at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, opioids were the first thing I was prescribed for pain management. While they helped in the immediate aftermath of the crash, my body just wasn’t handling them well and I was concerned about staying on them—so I knew I wanted to try something else.”
She said that’s when she was instead prescribed Journavx. “Acute pain can impact anyone at any time,” Vonn added. “I hope that sharing my experience encourages others to talk to their doctor about whether Journavx is right for them.”
She’s no stranger to pharma campaigns, having signed on for several with infectious disease biopharma Invivyd, as well as one with Idorsia back in 2022 for its insomnia medicine Quviviq.
Vertex’s drug has not, however, had the best trajectory since its early 2025 launch. Sales fell short of initial projections of $110 million last year when it brought in just under $60 million, leaving analysts underwhelmed.
But things are looking up. In its latest financial report, the drug saw revenue of $50 million for the second quarter, up 71% quarter over quarter and more than quadruple the $12 million reported in the second quarter of 2025.
Vonn joins other athletes as Vertex continues its quest to sharpen the sales trajectory for the drug. This includes NBA All-Star Jayson Tatum, professional basketball player DiJonai Carrington and baseball pitcher Hunter Dobbins.
NFL quarterback Alex Smith was involved in an unbranded pain awareness campaign.