Architectural 3D Walkthrough
During the discovery and launch of new drugs, those with undetected cardiotoxic side effects could have hazardous consequences and trigger lethal cardiac dysrhythmias (ventricular arrhythmias or TdP) in patients. It is therefore important to assess the potential cardiotoxic effects of new chemical entities (NCEs) at an early stage of drug development. Unfortunately, many of these compounds are not identified until they are in clinical trials after millions of dollars and years of effort have been invested. The late detection of cardiotoxic side effects (such as electrocardiogram QT-interval prolongation) induced by compounds of pharmacological interest, can dramatically impede drug research progress.
Therefore, for the sake of saving time and money, it is critical to assess the preclinical cardiac safety of these investigational products before entering clinical trials. Creative Bioarray provides series in vitro electrophysiology services for preclinical cardiac safety evaluations.
In vitro pharmaceutical profiling which can provide crucial information to estimate drug candidates with potential toxicity early in drug discovery is needed. An additional ICH guideline indicates that cardiac action potential duration (APD) in mammalian Purkinje Fibres, cardiac HERG-K+ channel interactions and in vivo ECG (QTc-intervals) measurements in conscious unrestrained animals (via Telemetry) should be conducted prior to first administration to humans. In vitro assays allowing precise control of drug concentration, at levels not easily attainable in vivo and at precise control of pacing rates, form a necessary adjunct to safety testing. Such design is provided by Purkinje Fibres which forms a multi-cellular tissue that propagates the AP into the muscular walls of the ventricle which is highly sensitive to drugs that produce LQT.