Icagen and Pfizer Initiate Nav 1.7 Phase I Multiple Ascending Dose Study

Icagen, Inc. ICGN today provided an update on its sodium channel program for pain and related disorders which is being conducted in collaboration with Pfizer. Icagen and Pfizer have initiated a multiple ascending dose study of the lead compound in the collaboration, which targets the ion channel Nav 1.7. The objective of this clinical study is to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of multiple doses of this novel drug candidate in a placebo controlled study in healthy volunteers. Up to four cohorts of healthy volunteers will receive escalating doses of the drug candidate for a period of fourteen days. P. Kay Wagoner, CEO of Icagen, stated, "We are delighted that, in collaboration with Pfizer, we continue the clinical development of our potent and subtype-selective Nav 1.7 blocker. This marks another important step in our joint development of subtype-selective sodium channel blockers, which we believe represent a promising approach for the treatment of pain and related disorders." Pfizer will continue to fund all aspects of the collaboration, including all clinical studies and the continuing research and preclinical development efforts at Icagen on collaboration sodium channel targets. Pfizer has exclusive worldwide rights to commercialize any products that result from the collaboration. Icagen is eligible to receive milestones and tiered royalties based upon any product sales for each product under the collaboration.