Xenon Announces Positive Phase 1 and New Preclinical Data at IASP 2026 Supporting Advancement of XEN1701 and XEN1120 to Phase 2 Proof-of-Concept Studies in Acute Pain
Globe Newswire•29/10/2026•08:30 ET
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Key Highlights
- ➤XEN1701 achieved over 75% Na(V)1.7 receptor occupancy centrally and peripherally.
- ➤XEN1120 exceeded predicted efficacious plasma exposures in Phase 1 modeling.
- ➤XEN1701 and XEN1120 Phase 2 acute pain studies expected in H1 2027.
- ➤XEN1701 showed ~85-100% reductions in monkey capsaicin-evoked heat pain.
- ➤XEN1120 demonstrated dose-dependent acute-phase pain reductions in mice.
Expert Statements
Ian Mortimer, President and CEO of Xenon
“This is an incredibly exciting milestone for Xenon given our significant history with both Na(V)1.7 and K(V)7, and it brings us closer to delivering a new generation of innovative non-opioid therapeutics for acute and chronic pain”
Ian Mortimer, President and CEO of Xenon
“The XEN1701 data are especially exciting as Na(V)1.7 has long been recognized by the field as having the strongest genetic evidence among novel pain targets, and many companies have tried to develop Na(V)1.7 inhibitors without success.”
Ian Mortimer, President and CEO of Xenon
“The Phase 1 data strengthen our belief that XEN1701 has a profile unlike any Na(V)1.7 compound previously tested in the clinic, achieving high target receptor occupancy without a notable pattern of cardiovascular effects.”
Ian Mortimer, President and CEO of Xenon
“We are optimistic that we may be on the precipice of realizing the potential of this promising pain target.”
Chris Kenney, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Xenon
“Our Phase 1 studies of XEN1701 and XEN1120 achieved all of our goals, demonstrating the desired profiles for both compounds and strongly supporting their advancement to Phase 2 acute pain studies for rapid proof-of-concept”
Chris Kenney, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Xenon
“We also are highly encouraged by additional preclinical data shared in these posters, including data in cynomolgus monkeys where a Xenon Na(V)1.7 inhibitor comparable to XEN1701 demonstrated up to a 100% reduction in evoked pain when central and peripheral receptor occupancies were above 75%, without effects on blood pressure or heart rate in this preclinical model.”
Chris Kenney, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Xenon
“In the same model, a K(V)7 compound comparable to XEN1120 also demonstrated a significant reduction in evoked pain, and XEN1120 has also demonstrated analgesic activity in the mouse formalin model during the acute phase, which has typically only been seen with opioids.”
* XEN1701 achieved target profile, including desired Na(V)1.7 receptor occupancy in both the peripheral and central nervous system, and was generally well-tolerated with no notable autonomic cardiovascular effects
* XEN1120 achieved plasma levels predictive of analgesic effects based on preclinical modeling and was generally well-tolerated
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