A viable global NaV1.7−/− knockout mouse is disclosed, and a breeding colony of global NaV1.7−/− knockout mice. Also disclosed are an isolated mouse gamete that does not encode a functional NaV1.7, produced by the NaV1.7−/− knockout mouse an isolated NaV1.7−/− mouse cell, or a progeny cell thereof, isolated from the NaV1.7−/− knockout mouse and a primary cell culture or a secondary cell line and a tissue or organ explant or culture thereof derived from the NaV1.7−/− knockout mouse. Disclosed also are a hybridoma, wherein the hybridoma was originally formed from the fusion of the isolated NaV1.7−/− mouse cell mouse cell and a myeloma cell, and a method of making an antibody. Also disclosed are assays useful for screening prospective NaV1.7 inhibitors and dose ranging a test NaV1.7 inhibitor compound, which were validated using the NaV1.7−/− knockout mouse.
