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Volta Assay: hiPSC Cardiomyocyte Model for Early Cardiac Derisking

A powerful tool for safer and more efficient drug discovery

Metrion’s human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) cardiomyocyte assay is an advanced tool, providing key advantages, for early cardiac derisking in drug discovery.

Our clinically translatable cardiomyocyte model offers early decision-making data on the potential cardiac risks of novel early-stage discovery compounds, significantly reducing the reliance on costly animal studies.

This model provides comprehensive safety pharmacology and toxicology data from acute and chronic (24 h or greater) exposure of compounds. This high-throughput, cost efficient 96-well plate-based assay, assesses changes in action potential morphology. Moreover, the assay format aligns with current ICH S7B guidelines and adheres to the principles of the FDA Modernization Act 2.0.

Impact on hiPSC action potential morphology of selective ion channel or hERG trafficking block
Figure 1. Representative traces showing the impact on hiPSC action potential morphology of selective ion channel or hERG trafficking block.

Metrion’s Volta hiPSC cardiomyocyte assay is a powerful tool for early cardiac derisking, contributing to safer and more efficient drug development processes.

Advantages of the hiPSC cardiomyocyte model

  1. Human Relevance: The assay provides a more human-relevant model compared to animal studies, potentially improving the predictability of human responses in clinical trials.
  2. Reduction of Animal Use: The use of hiPSC cardiomyocytes reduces the need for animal testing, aligning with the principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) in animal research and the FDA Modernization Act 2.0.
  3. Early Detection: By identifying cardiotoxic compounds early in the drug development process, Metrion’s Volta hiPSC cardiomyocyte assay helps to avoid late-stage failures, saving time and resources.
  4. Versatility: These assays can be used in conjunction with various types of cardiac assessments, including electrophysiological studies, contractility assays, biochemical analyses and even in vivo studies.

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