UK-based preclinical contract research organisation Metrion Biosciences has launched a high-throughput NaV1.9 screening assay to enhance the discovery and development of novel pain therapeutics.
The NaV1.9 assay, developed using over a decade of electrophysiology expertise, addresses the traditional challenges in NaV1.9 screening, providing reproducible and decision-ready data for researchers.
NaV1.9 is a voltage-gated sodium channel found in peripheral sensory neurones, and its mutations are linked to severe pain and pain insensitivity in humans.
Metrion’s new NaV1.9 assay complements its existing portfolio of efficacy and safety screening assays, enhancing capabilities to accelerate and de-risk preclinical programmes.
The assay is developed using a stable and validated CHO cell line and is optimised for high reproducibility and low variability.
It is available with both human- and rat-derived clones, providing insights into species selectivity for more effective therapeutics.
Metrion Biosciences chief scientific officer Eddy Stevens said: “The availability of effective assays to study the NaV1.9 sodium channel has been a major stumbling block that has held back the development of the next generation of non-opioid pain therapeutics.
“Metrion is now able to offer a unique combination of sodium channel expertise, high-throughput screening solutions and research services. These cover the full suite of pain-related sodium channels.
“By facilitating streamlined compound evaluation and accelerated lead optimisation, this service offering has the potential to bring novel pain therapeutics to market rapidly and more cost-effectively.
“This important launch represents a major milestone for Metrion, a testament to the dedication and knowledge of our team and reinforces our position as leading the field in ion channel drug discovery.”
Metrion’s complete suite of pain-related sodium channel assays now provides selectivity profiling across NaV1.1 to NaV1.9.
The company’s portfolio includes off-target counter screens, other pain-related ion channel targets, and a Cipa panel for cardiac safety risk assessment.
Metrion also offers manual clamp-based mechanistic and translational assays, and automated patch clamp using the Qube 384 for rapid analysis of large candidate libraries.
Its comprehensive approach aims to unlock deeper insights into NaV1.9 pharmacology, advancing the development of novel pain treatments.
