ApconiX Return Over 80% of hERG Screening Data to Clients Within One Week

Why is Time Critical to hERG Screening Data?

ApconiX has worked hard to optimise our processes and is now returning over 80% of hERG screening data back to clients within one week of compound receipt.  This allows critical decisions to be made in medicinal chemistry on a full dataset of compound properties, avoiding mistakes and delays in compound selection.

All hERG data is reported within two weeks. We always work with our clients to ensure we are providing a service that is flexible and fits within their project time lines.

The testing and analysis is carried out by expert electrophysiologists.  The strength of the ApconiX team is being able to deliver well informed, up-to-date advice that goes far beyond the data.  We aim to help our clients make the best possible decisions and speaking to the scientists is part of the service.

Why is hERG Important?

Inhibition of potassium currents through the hERG ion channel is linked to a potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmia long QT syndrome and Torsades de Pointes.  During drug discovery, potential drug molecules are therefore screened to eliminate those that inhibit hERG.  This optimisation of chemical leads based on data feedback is an iterative process and an integral part of the design-make-test (DMT) cycle.  Today, hERG assays are frequently outsourced to specialist external providers.  However, the typical 3-4-week turnaround time often fails to align with decision-making, adversely impacting the research team’s "design-make-test" cycle.

Dr Stuart Best, Redx Pharma: “ApconiX has provided hERG data to Redx Pharma from June 2016 to help support our discovery projects. Data turnaround times over this period have been rapid (under 1 week) and this has been critical in progressing projects quickly; outsourcing the assay with this turn-around has had no impact on our "design-make-test" cycle times. 

Additionally, ApconiX’s approach is very collaborative providing expert advice on these data as part of their service. Another vital component to this screening is flexibility over compound numbers which enables us to maintain progress during the peaks and troughs of compound supply and prevents delays which can occur if you have to wait to reach a trigger point for submission of an assay.”

If you would like to take advantage of our rapid turnaround times, please email michael.morton@apconix.com