Nektar Therapeutics has dosed the first subjects in a Phase I study for NKTR-171, a new sodium channel blocker being developed as an oral therapy for the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain. The single-ascending dose study will assess its MKTR-171’s pharmacokinetics, tolerability, and safety in as many as 50 healthy subjects.  

NKTR-171 is a new molecular entity that is specifically designed to treat neuropathic pain by blocking hyperactive neuronal sodium channels associated with damaged nerves in the peripheral nervous system. NKTR-171 is designed to be a peripherally-restricted molecule that  selectively blocks hyper-excitable sodium channels without causing the CNS side effects that limit usage of existing therapies.