A Review of the Therapeutic Targeting of SCN9A and Nav1.7 for Pain Relief in Current Human Clinical Trials

INTRODUCTION: There is a great need to find alternative treatments for chronic pain which have become a healthcare problem. We discuss current therapeutic targeting Nav1.7. AREAS COVERED: Nav1.7 is a sodium ion channel protein that is associated with several human pain genetic syndromes. It has been found that mutations associated with Nav1.7 lead to the loss of the ability to perceive pain in individuals that are otherwise normal. Several therapeutic interventions are presently undergoing preclinical and research using the methodology of damping Nav1.7 expressions as a methodology to decrease the sensation of pain leading to analgesia. EXPERT OPINION: It is our strong belief that there is a viable future in the targeting of protein of Nav1.7 for the relief of chronic pain in humans. The review will look at the genomics associated with SCN1A and proteomic of Nav1.7 as a foundation to explain the mechanism of the therapeutic interventions targeting Nav1.7, the human disease that are associated with Nav1.7, and the current development of treatment for chronic pain whether in preclinical or clinical trials targeting Nav1.7 expressions. The development of therapeutic antagonists targeting Nav1.7 could be a viable alternative to the current treatments which have led to the opioid crisis. Therefore, Nav1.7 targeted treatment has a major clinical significance that will have positive consequences as it relates to chronic pain interventions.