Reliable, high-throughput KV7 assays paired with expert interpretation enable faster progression of pain and epilepsy drug discovery programmes.
A new paper co-authored by Eddy Stevens PhD, CSO and Tony Rush PhD, Director of Neuroscience, Metrion Biosciences reports that NS5806, widely used as a Kv4-selective activator, also activates TREK-1 and TREK-2 potassium ion channels. NS5806 was shown to hyperpolarize resting membrane potential in trigeminal neurons and activate heterologously expressed TREK-1 and TREK-2 (both highly expressed in sensory neurons). These findings should be considered when using NS5806 to study Kv4 channel physiology.
The paper is co-authored with Emma Veale and Alistair Mathie (Universities of Kent and Greenwich) and published in Pharmacology Research & Perspectives.¹
Veale et al., Pharmacol Res Perspect 14(3):e70264 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1002/prp2.70264
Reliable, high-throughput KV7 assays paired with expert interpretation enable faster progression of pain and epilepsy drug discovery programmes.
By accurately defining the drug exposure levels that affect QRS duration, researchers can establish safety margins, prioritise lower-risk compounds, and reduce the chance of late-stage failures due to cardiac toxicity