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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 26, 2026

The Sciatic Nerve Cuffing Model of Neuropathic Pain in Mice

The Sciatic Nerve Cuffing Model of Neuropathic Pain in Mice

Published on: July 16, 2014

Recent progress in sodium channel modulators for pain.

Sharan K Bagal¹, Mark L Chapman², Brian E Marron³

¹Worldwide Medicinal Chemistry, Pfizer Neusentis, The Portway Building, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge CB21 6GS, UK.

Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters

|July 26, 2014

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Voltage-gated sodium channels (Navs) are key targets for pain drug discovery. Advances in genetic data, screening technologies, and structural biology are accelerating the development of novel Nav therapeutics.

Keywords:

Electrophysiology screening Sodium channel drugs Sodium channel structure Sodium channel toxins Voltage-gated sodium channels

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Last Updated: Apr 26, 2026

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Area of Science:

Pharmacology
Neuroscience
Structural Biology

Background:

Voltage-gated sodium channels (Navs) are crucial transmembrane proteins.
Nav drug discovery is a rapidly expanding field, particularly for pain therapeutics.
Genetic data (e.g., SCN10A mutations) and advanced screening platforms (IonWorks Barracuda®, Synchropatch®, Qube®) have fueled pharmaceutical investment.

Purpose of the Study:

To highlight the growing importance and recent advancements in voltage-gated sodium channel drug discovery.
To underscore the potential of Navs as therapeutic targets for pain management.

Main Methods:

Review of emerging clinical data for Nav-targeting drugs (e.g., AZD-3161, XEN402).
Incorporation of recent breakthroughs in Nav structural biology.
Analysis of genetic associations and high-throughput screening methodologies.

Main Results:

Significant expansion of pharmaceutical investment in Navs for pain therapeutics.
Emerging clinical data suggests promising therapeutic potential.
Recent structural biology insights are facilitating prospective drug discovery.

Conclusions:

Voltage-gated sodium channels represent a highly promising area for future drug discovery, especially for pain.
The convergence of genetic, clinical, and structural data is poised to drive innovation in Nav-targeted therapies.