Targeting Nav1.7: A New Approach to Long-Lasting Relief from Nerve Pain
Summary
Researchers develop targeted antibodies that reduce abnormal pain signals while preserving normal pain sensation and movement
Neuropathic pain, caused by damage or dysfunction of the nerves, is often difficult to treat because medicines that reduce pain may also cause unwanted effects. Now, researchers have developed humanized antibodies that target Nav1.7, a sodium channel involved in pain signaling. The antibodies produced pain relief lasting at least 96 hours in rat models, without affecting normal pain responses, providing preclinical support for a potential long-acting treatment strategy for neuropathic pain.
- Image title： Reducing Abnormal Nerve Signals Through Nav1.7 Targeting
- Image caption： Researchers use antibodies targeting the sodium ion channel protein Nav1.7 to reduce abnormal pain signaling associated with neuropathic pain while preserving normal pain responses.
- Credit：fbobolas from openverse
- source Link：https://openverse.org/image/5476ce9f-03dd-40f5-b246-4be17b609b81?q=neurons&p=47
- License type：CC BY-SA 2.0
- Usage restrictions：Credit must be given to the creator. Adaptations must be shared under the same terms.
Research Details
Targeting Nav1.7: A New Approach to Long-Lasting Relief from Nerve Pain [PDF, 151KB]
Reference
Title of original paper
A Systemically Administered Humanized Anti-Nav1.7 Antibody with Long-Lasting Analgesic Activity and Preserved Physiological Nociception
Journal
Pharmaceutics
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18060757
Additional information for EurekAlert
Latest Article Publication Date
21 June 2026
Method of Research
Experimental Study
Subject of Research
Animals
Conflicts of Interest Statement
E.K., D.N., T.T., and M.Y. are listed as inventors on patent WO2023/074888, which covers some of the material described in this paper. D.U. received research funding from Shionogi & Co., Ltd. All authors, except D.U., are employees of Shionogi & Co., Ltd. K.Y., T.Y., S.Y., K.T., and T.I. T.T., T.N., M.Y., K.O. and E.K. hold shares in Shionogi & Co., Ltd. The funders/companies had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.
Media contact
Yumiko Kato
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