Metrion is working towards the requirements of the FDA’s Comprehensive in vitro Proarrhythmia (CiPA) initiative (cipaproject.org) which comprises 3 parts: 1) High quality in vitro cardiac ion channel assays, 2) Comprehensive in silico action potential (AP) models, and 3) Predictive assays using induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CM).
We are building upon our panel of in vitro human cardiac ion channel assays and applying the data to various in silico cardiac models, and more recently assessing commercially available iPSC-CM for use in phenotypic assays to assess the pharmacological and risk predictions from our in vitro and in silico cardiac safety data.
Here we outline our progress in validating and implementing all 3 pillars of the CiPA regime by building upon work presented previously at the 2015 SPS meeting in Prague.
We developed a high-throughput, electrophysiological assay of TREK-1 function to identify novel modulators. The assay was optimized to identify both activators and inhibitors, providing comprehensive mechanistic data for high value, limited supply screening libraries, such as the venom fraction library used in this study (Targeted Venom Discovery Array, T-VDA, Venomtech, UK).
Scientifica’s PatchScope Pro is an integrated electrophysiology rig incorporating an inverted phase-contrast fluorescence microscope, motorised XY stage and PatchStar micromanipulators, suitable for patch-clamp recording.