Domainex and Metrion Biosciences have formed an alliance to identify new chemical hits against ion-channel targets. Key to this collaboration are Domainex’s experience in hit identification and Metrion Bioscience’s expertise in ion channel screening and pharmacology.
The transient receptor potential cation channel A1 (TRPA1) is a voltage-dependent non-selective cation channel. It is an established therapeutic target, antagonists of which may have utility in the treatment of pain and the management of chronic cough. Bautista et al¹ described TRPA1 as a “gatekeeper of chronic inflammatory disorders of the skin, airways, and gastrointestinal tract”.
Development of a robust hNaV1.9 high-throughput screening assay on the Sophion Qube384 platform. This is complemented by a suite of ion channel selectivity assays and sensory neuron recordings to create a versatile screening cascade to support NaV1.9 drug discovery programmes.
Optical voltage imaging of human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes was used to assess electrophysiological effects of compounds beyond hERG inhibition. Action potential waveform analysis revealed compound-specific and concentration-dependent changes, enabling mechanistic differentiation of multichannel activity and demonstrating a human-relevant approach for translational cardiac safety assessment.