{"id":20047,"date":"2026-10-08T09:09:05","date_gmt":"2026-10-08T09:09:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/?post_type=case-study&#038;p=20047"},"modified":"2026-10-08T09:09:06","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T09:09:06","slug":"advancing-pain-research-with-na%e1%b5%a51-7-and-na%e1%b5%a51-8-electrophysiology","status":"publish","type":"case-study","link":"https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/fr\/case-study\/advancing-pain-research-with-na%e1%b5%a51-7-and-na%e1%b5%a51-8-electrophysiology\/","title":{"rendered":"Advancing Pain Research with Na\u1d651.7 and Na\u1d651.8 Electrophysiology"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chronic pain remains one of the most significant unmet needs in drug discovery. While many current therapies can provide symptom relief, concerns around efficacy, tolerability, and dependence continue to drive the search for alternative approaches. Among the most widely studied targets are the voltage-gated sodium channels Na<sub>V<\/sub>1.7 and Na<sub>V<\/sub>1.8, which play distinct but complementary roles in peripheral pain signaling (Table 1).<\/p>\n\n\n<section class=\"Pegasus__Container w-full   relative h-fit  text-content-dark mobile-stacking-standard is-layout-flow wp-block-pegasus-container-is-layout-flow\" style=\"  padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30); border-style:none;border-width:0px;\">\n\t        \n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t        \t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"inner relative h-full is-flex-layout flex flex-col justify-start  w-full\">\n<div class=\"Tables pegasus-block relative\" x-data=\"{ tooltipOpen: false }\">\n  <div class=\"Tables_scroll overflow-x-auto w-full max-w-[80vw] sm:max-w-none\">\n                                                        \n    <table class=\"Tables-table min-w-max table-auto overflow-hidden  Tables-padding-small\" style=\"--vertical-border-color: rgba(157, 175, 190, 0.2); --horizontal-border-color: rgba(157, 175, 190, 0.2); border-radius: 1.5rem;\">\n      \n      \n      <tbody>\n              <\/tbody>\n\n    <\/table>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"Tables pegasus-block relative\" x-data=\"{ tooltipOpen: false }\">\n  <div class=\"Tables_scroll overflow-x-auto w-full max-w-[80vw] sm:max-w-none\">\n                                                                                                                                                          \n    <table class=\"Tables-table min-w-max table-auto overflow-hidden  Tables-padding-small\" style=\"--vertical-border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); --horizontal-border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-radius: 1.5rem; border: 1px solid rgb(0,0,0);\">\n      \n            <thead>\n        <tr>\n                      <th colspan=\"2\" class=\"Tables-header \" style=\"\">\n              <div class=\"has-text-xl-font-size font-medium text-white  text-center\">\n                Table 1. NaV1.7\/1.8 activity in pain signaling\n              <\/div>\n            <\/th>\n                  <\/tr>\n      <\/thead>\n      \n      <tbody>\n                                                      <tr class=\"Tables-row Tables-row-odd\" style=\"background-color: #F5EFE6;\">\n              \n                                                                                              \n                \n                                                                  \n                                                  \n                \n                <td class=\"Tables-cell\" style=\"border-right: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0) !important;border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0) !important;min-width: 12rem;\">\n                  <div class=\"h-full w-full flex items-center justify-center py-4\">\n                    <div class=\"has-text-base-font-size text-content-secondary font-medium text-center\">\n                      <h2 class=\"has-text-xl-font-size\"><strong>Na\u1d651.7<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n                    <\/div>\n                  <\/div>\n                <\/td>\n                                                                                              \n                \n                                \n                                                  \n                \n                <td class=\"Tables-cell\" style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0) !important;min-width: 12rem;\">\n                  <div class=\"h-full w-full flex items-center justify-center py-4\">\n                    <div class=\"has-text-base-font-size text-content-secondary font-medium text-center\">\n                      <h2 class=\"has-text-xl-font-size\"><span style=\"color: #002b46;\"><strong>Na\u1d651.8<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n                    <\/div>\n                  <\/div>\n                <\/td>\n                          <\/tr>\n                                              <tr class=\"Tables-row Tables-row-even\" style=\"background-color: #FCF8F3;\">\n              \n                                                                                              \n                \n                                                                  \n                                                  \n                \n                <td class=\"Tables-cell\" style=\"border-right: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0) !important;border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0) !important;min-width: 12rem;\">\n                  <div class=\"h-full w-full flex items-center justify-center py-4\">\n                    <div class=\"has-text-base-font-size text-content-secondary font-medium text-center\">\n                      <p>Amplifies small depolarizations<\/p>\n\n                    <\/div>\n                  <\/div>\n                <\/td>\n                                                                                              \n                \n                                \n                                                  \n                \n                <td class=\"Tables-cell\" style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0) !important;min-width: 12rem;\">\n                  <div class=\"h-full w-full flex items-center justify-center py-4\">\n                    <div class=\"has-text-base-font-size text-content-secondary font-medium text-center\">\n                      <p>Generates large inward sodium current<\/p>\n\n                    <\/div>\n                  <\/div>\n                <\/td>\n                          <\/tr>\n                                              <tr class=\"Tables-row Tables-row-odd\" style=\"background-color: #F5EFE6;\">\n              \n                                                                                              \n                \n                                                                  \n                                                  \n                \n                <td class=\"Tables-cell\" style=\"border-right: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0) !important;border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0) !important;min-width: 12rem;\">\n                  <div class=\"h-full w-full flex items-center justify-center py-4\">\n                    <div class=\"has-text-base-font-size text-content-secondary font-medium text-center\">\n                      <p>Helps the neuron reach action threshold<\/p>\n\n                    <\/div>\n                  <\/div>\n                <\/td>\n                                                                                              \n                \n                                \n                                                  \n                \n                <td class=\"Tables-cell\" style=\"border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0) !important;min-width: 12rem;\">\n                  <div class=\"h-full w-full flex items-center justify-center py-4\">\n                    <div class=\"has-text-base-font-size text-content-secondary font-medium text-center\">\n                      <p>Supports the generation of action potential<\/p>\n\n                    <\/div>\n                  <\/div>\n                <\/td>\n                          <\/tr>\n                                              <tr class=\"Tables-row Tables-row-even\" style=\"background-color: #FCF8F3;\">\n              \n                                                                                              \n                \n                                                                  \n                \n                \n                <td class=\"Tables-cell\" style=\"border-right: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0) !important;min-width: 12rem;\">\n                  <div class=\"h-full w-full flex items-center justify-center py-4\">\n                    <div class=\"has-text-base-font-size text-content-secondary font-medium text-center\">\n                      <p>Initiates pain signaling<\/p>\n\n                    <\/div>\n                  <\/div>\n                <\/td>\n                                                                                              \n                \n                                \n                \n                \n                <td class=\"Tables-cell\" style=\"min-width: 12rem;\">\n                  <div class=\"h-full w-full flex items-center justify-center py-4\">\n                    <div class=\"has-text-base-font-size text-content-secondary font-medium text-center\">\n                      <p>Supports action potential propagation<\/p>\n\n                    <\/div>\n                  <\/div>\n                <\/td>\n                          <\/tr>\n                        <\/tbody>\n\n    <\/table>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"Tables pegasus-block relative\" x-data=\"{ tooltipOpen: false }\">\n  <div class=\"Tables_scroll overflow-x-auto w-full max-w-[80vw] sm:max-w-none\">\n                                                        \n    <table class=\"Tables-table min-w-max table-auto overflow-hidden  Tables-padding-small\" style=\"--vertical-border-color: rgba(157, 175, 190, 0.2); --horizontal-border-color: rgba(157, 175, 190, 0.2); border-radius: 1.5rem;\">\n      \n      \n      <tbody>\n              <\/tbody>\n\n    <\/table>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t        <\/section>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-rounded is-style-rounded--1\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"655\" height=\"456\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Schematic-of-NaV1.7-1.8-in-chronic-pain.webp\" alt=\"Diagram showing Nav1.7-mediated action potential initiation and Nav1.8-mediated propagation of pain signals in a sensory neuron.\" class=\"wp-image-20053\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Schematic-of-NaV1.7-1.8-in-chronic-pain.webp 655w, https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Schematic-of-NaV1.7-1.8-in-chronic-pain-300x209.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Schematic-of-NaV1.7-1.8-in-chronic-pain-517x360.webp 517w, https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Schematic-of-NaV1.7-1.8-in-chronic-pain-640x446.webp 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 655px) 100vw, 655px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Figure 1<\/strong>. Neuronal hypersensitivity mediated by Na\u1d651.7 and Na\u1d651.8 in chronic pain conditions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Genetic and physiological studies have established Na<sub>V<\/sub>1.7 as a key regulator of pain perception. Loss-of-function mutations in the channel are associated with congenital insensitivity to pain, while gain-of-function mutations can lead to severe pain disorders. Na<sub>V<\/sub>1.8, by contrast, is expressed predominantly in nociceptive sensory neurons and contributes to the generation and propagation of action potentials associated with painful stimuli. Together, the two channels are widely investigated as targets for the development of non-opioid analgesics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized is-style-rounded is-style-rounded--2\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"728\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Example-of-I-V-activation-current-traces-1024x728.webp\" alt=\"Representative I-V activation current traces showing voltage-dependent inward sodium currents with peak amplitudes up to approximately -1.1 nA.\" class=\"wp-image-20054\" style=\"width:600px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Example-of-I-V-activation-current-traces-1024x728.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Example-of-I-V-activation-current-traces-300x213.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Example-of-I-V-activation-current-traces-768x546.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Example-of-I-V-activation-current-traces-507x360.webp 507w, https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Example-of-I-V-activation-current-traces-640x455.webp 640w, https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Example-of-I-V-activation-current-traces.webp 1216w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Figure 2.<\/strong> Example of I-V activation current traces measured from Na\u1d651.8 cells (n=23); a series of pulses increasing in +10 mV steps from -110 mV to +60 mV are applied from a holding potential of -120 mV every 20 s.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For drug developers pursuing these targets, one of the principal challenges is distinguishing meaningful pharmacology from broad sodium channel inhibition. Small differences in selectivity can have significant implications for efficacy, safety, and the overall progression of a discovery program. This places considerable importance on generating reliable functional data early in the drug discovery process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-blue-500-color has-text-color has-link-color has-text-xl-font-size wp-elements-1\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"><strong>Why Sygnature Discovery?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Understanding sodium channel pharmacology requires both reliable functional measurements and the ability to compare activity across closely related channel subtypes. Sygnature Discovery has developed a sodium channel electrophysiology platform spanning recombinant Na<sub>V<\/sub>1.1-1.8 assays together with human iPSC-derived sensory neuron models, enabling evaluation of both target engagement and subtype selectivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized is-style-rounded is-style-rounded--3\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1036\" height=\"271\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Assay-performance-NaV-1.1-1.8.webp\" alt=\"Current traces and subtype selectivity profile showing preferential activity against Nav1.5 and Nav1.8 compared with other Nav channel subtypes.\" class=\"wp-image-20055\" style=\"width:1296px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Assay-performance-NaV-1.1-1.8.webp 1036w, https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Assay-performance-NaV-1.1-1.8-300x78.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Assay-performance-NaV-1.1-1.8-1024x268.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Assay-performance-NaV-1.1-1.8-768x201.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Assay-performance-NaV-1.1-1.8-640x167.webp 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1036px) 100vw, 1036px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Figure 3.<\/strong> Electrophysiological profiling across recombinant Na\u1d65 channel subtypes enables comparison of channel behavior and supports assessment of subtype selectivity.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rather than relying on a single screening approach, researchers can combine automated electrophysiology, manual patch clamp studies and sensory neuron assays to investigate how compounds interact with pain-relevant sodium channels. This enables functional activity to be assessed in both controlled recombinant systems and more physiologically relevant cellular models. For organisations developing sodium channel-targeted pain therapeutics, understanding whether compounds demonstrate meaningful subtype selectivity is critical. Generating reliable functional data that differentiates activity across closely related sodium channel subtypes remains an important challenge during hit identification and lead optimization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-blue-500-color has-text-color has-link-color has-text-xl-font-size wp-elements-2\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"><strong>Our Approach to the Challenge\u2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The program focused on generating electrophysiological data to characterise pain-relevant sodium channels, with particular emphasis on Na<sub>V<\/sub>1.8 pharmacology and comparative assessment with Na<sub>V<\/sub>1.7 activity. Automated patch clamp methods were used to measure sodium currents under defined voltage-clamp conditions and to evaluate the effects of pharmacological modulators on channel function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Particular emphasis was placed on Na<sub>V<\/sub>1.8, a target of growing interest for peripheral pain indications. Characterization studies examined channel activation and inactivation properties, assay stability, and pharmacological responses using reference compounds. Concentration-response experiments with the selective Na<sub>V<\/sub>1.8 inhibitor A803467 demonstrated reproducible inhibition across independent runs, providing an internal benchmark for assay performance (figure 4).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-rounded is-style-rounded--4\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"610\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Concentration-response-curve-showing-the-concentration-dependent-block-in-the-presence-of-the-specific-agonist.webp\" alt=\"Concentration-response curves from three independent runs showing reproducible inhibition of Nav1.8 by A803467, with IC\u2085\u2080 values ranging from approximately 2 \u00d7 10\u207b\u2077 to 7 \u00d7 10\u207b\u2077 M.\" class=\"wp-image-20069\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Concentration-response-curve-showing-the-concentration-dependent-block-in-the-presence-of-the-specific-agonist.webp 610w, https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Concentration-response-curve-showing-the-concentration-dependent-block-in-the-presence-of-the-specific-agonist-300x210.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Concentration-response-curve-showing-the-concentration-dependent-block-in-the-presence-of-the-specific-agonist-514x360.webp 514w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Figure 4.<\/strong> Concentration-response curve showing the concentration-dependent block in the presence of the specific NaV1.8 antagonist, A803467 over 3 different runs on the same day, and a table with the calculated IC50 for each run.  <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The broader sodium channel platform also enabled comparison between closely related channel subtypes, helping to identify compounds with differentiated activity profiles and supporting selectivity assessment during lead optimization (figure 5).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized is-style-rounded is-style-rounded--5\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"619\" height=\"346\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Subtype-selectivity-1.7-1.8-Figure-5-1.webp\" alt=\"Diagram showing Nav1.7-mediated action potential initiation and Nav1.8-mediated propagation of pain signals in a sensory neuron.\" class=\"wp-image-20062\" style=\"width:762px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Subtype-selectivity-1.7-1.8-Figure-5-1.webp 619w, https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Subtype-selectivity-1.7-1.8-Figure-5-1-300x168.webp 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 619px) 100vw, 619px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Figure 5.<\/strong> Differential responses observed between NaV1.7 and NaV1.8 demonstrate the value of subtype profiling when evaluating sodium channel modulators.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The work demonstrated that Na<sub>V<\/sub>1.8 activity can be measured reproducibly using standardised electrophysiology workflows, while the broader platform supports comparative assessment of additional sodium channel subtypes, including Na<sub>V<\/sub>1.7. Across the Na<sub>V<\/sub>1.8 assay, consistent current amplitudes, high proportions of successful recordings and reproducible responses to reference compounds indicated stable assay performance (figure 6 and 7).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized is-style-rounded is-style-rounded--6\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"502\" height=\"369\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Cross-Species-Metabolic-Stability-Comparison.webp\" alt=\"Bar chart comparing Nav1.8 current amplitudes across seven experiments, showing consistent inward currents ranging from approximately -1.9 to -3.0 nA with associated error bars.\" class=\"wp-image-20067\" style=\"width:663px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Cross-Species-Metabolic-Stability-Comparison.webp 502w, https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Cross-Species-Metabolic-Stability-Comparison-300x221.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Cross-Species-Metabolic-Stability-Comparison-490x360.webp 490w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 502px) 100vw, 502px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Figure 6.<\/strong> Sodium current amplitude (nA) measured across different days, consistently showing NaV1.8 currents above -1.5 nA.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized is-style-rounded is-style-rounded--7\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"574\" height=\"429\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Sodium-current-amplitude-measured-across-different-days-1.webp\" alt=\"Bar chart showing comparative values across seven species, with the highest responses in the fourth and seventh groups and the lowest response in the fifth group.\" class=\"wp-image-20065\" style=\"width:684px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Sodium-current-amplitude-measured-across-different-days-1.webp 574w, https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Sodium-current-amplitude-measured-across-different-days-1-300x224.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.sygnaturediscovery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Sodium-current-amplitude-measured-across-different-days-1-482x360.webp 482w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 574px) 100vw, 574px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Figure 7.<\/strong> Number of positive cells (in %) measured across different days, consistently showing above 60% success rate.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Importantly, the data highlighted the value of functional electrophysiology when studying sodium channels. While binding and indirect screening approaches can provide useful information, direct measurement of channel activity can provide additional insight into how compounds influence ion flow and neuronal excitability. This can be particularly relevant for programs seeking to differentiate molecules based on efficacy, state dependence or subtype selectivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-blue-500-color has-text-color has-link-color has-text-xl-font-size wp-elements-3\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"><strong>Our Impact on Pain-Relief Discovery Programs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Access to functional data across both Na<sub>V<\/sub>1.7 and Na<sub>V<\/sub>1.8 enabled comparison of compound activity within a pain-relevant sodium channel panel. This provided additional context for evaluating pharmacological profiles and supported progression decisions during optimization activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By integrating recombinant channel assays with human sensory neuron capabilities, programs could also begin to explore whether activity observed in reductionist systems translated into more biologically relevant models. This creates a framework for progressing from initial screening data towards a broader understanding of how compounds may behave in pain-related cellular systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For organizations developing next-generation pain therapeutics, confidence in sodium channel data is essential. Reliable electrophysiology studies support compound prioritization, provide evidence for progression decisions and help focus resources on molecules with the most promising pharmacological profiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As interest in Na<sub>V<\/sub>1.7\/1.8 continues to grow, access to robust functional assays and translationally relevant models provides a practical foundation for advancing non-opioid pain discovery programs and supporting key development decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-blue-500-color has-text-color has-link-color has-text-xl-font-size wp-elements-4\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Na<sub>V<\/sub>1.7\/1.8 continues to be widely investigated as targets for non-opioid pain therapies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Understanding subtype-selective pharmacology is important for evaluating efficacy and safety risk.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Functional electrophysiology provides direct measurement of sodium channel activity and pharmacology.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reproducible Na<sub>V<\/sub>1.8 data using reference inhibitors demonstrated consistent assay performance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Human sensory neuron models can provide additional biological context beyond recombinant systems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":20053,"template":"","category":[706,681,707,746,692,753,778],"resource_tag":[1405],"class_list":["post-20047","case-study","type-case-study","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-assay-development","category-bioscience","category-electrophysiology","category-ion-channels","category-lead-optimisation","category-neuroscience","category-sodium-channels","resource_tag-assays"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.6 - 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