Merck

Last updated January 31, 2026

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Nav1.8 carboxamide scaffold engineering: MerckRecent Research Landscape

Inefficient targeting of voltage-gated sodium channels leads to off-target toxicity and poor analgesic efficacy. These innovations utilize selective aryl sulfonamide scaffolds and viral-mediated subunit co-expression to achieve precise electrophysiological modulation.

What technical problems is Merck addressing in Nav1.8 carboxamide scaffold engineering?

Inadequate sodium channel expression

(5)evidences

Low recombinant protein yield and poor functional expression of complex sodium channel subunits. Improving expression levels enables accurate pharmacological screening and therapeutic potency.

Inadequate peripheral nerve analgesia

(3)evidences

Insufficient blockade of voltage-gated sodium channels leads to persistent nociceptive signaling. Improving target selectivity and potency reduces chronic and acute pain transmission.