CNS Liability
The regulations regarding the testing of new drugs are changing. The FDA modernisation act endorses the use of new approach methodologies (NAMs) to assess a range of toxicities, including CNS liability which can negatively impact a drug’s probability of success.
CNS adverse effects are common in drug discovery, and are always important to identify early. Ion channels are critical to the functioning of the CNS, so the screening of discovery compounds for activities against ion channel targets can aide in identifying hazards. For drugs that are know to penetrate the blood brain barrier, understanding ion channel liabilities is critical. Our panel of ion channels relevant to the CNS can be flexibly deployed to suit your needs.
We have developed an integrated in vitro screening approach for early CNS liability to support hazard identification and decision making in early drug discovery.
- A panel of 15 human ion channels relevant to CNS adverse effects that can be screened using automated electrophysiology
- A microelectrode array (MEA) assay that utilises human-derived neuronal stem cells to demonstrate potential CNS or seizure activity by measuring electrical activity
You will benefit from:
- High quality ion channel profiling with a turnaround time of 14 days from receipt of compound
- MEA assessment of electrical activity in human iPSC-neuronal and astrocyte co-cultures
- High-throughput assays with reduced reliance on costly animal studies with questionable translation
- Access to ApconiX scientists who will tailor our service specifically to your needs and better advise you on your next steps
Our Services:
- Ion channel screening of our comprehensive panel of CNS associated ion channels performed by automated patch-clamp. All ion channels are the human isoform: Nav1.1, Nav1.2, Nav1.6, Kv1.1, Kv2.1, Kv3.1, Kv4.2, KCa1.1, KCa4.1, Kv7.2/7.3, Kv7.3/7.5, GABA α1β2γ2, NMDA 1/2A, nicotinic AChR α4β2, Cav2.1
- Any combination of these ion channels can be tested to suit client needs
- Investigation of potential CNS activity in hiPSC-neuronal co-cultures using the Maestro Pro MEA assay system (Axion BioSystems)
Investigating CNS Liability
Inhibition of neuronal ion channels can adversely affect the balance of excitation and inhibition in the brain and negatively impact a drug’s probability of success, value and competitiveness. By working with ApconiX you will benefit from our combined expertise in ion channel electrophysiology, hiPSC-neuronal cell models and project toxicology to identify risks, gain mechanistic insight and prioritise the right candidates moving forward.
Our electrophysiology experts will rapidly generate high-quality CNS screening data for your drug discovery programme and aim to return this data in two weeks.
Our hiPSC-neuronal cell model experts can assess compound effects on electrical signalling. This can reveal perturbations to ion channel activity and other important regulators of neuronal function.
MEA video
This video shows synchronicity of action potential firing in
hiPSC-neuronal co-culture.
Improving Preclinical Screening for CNS
CNS Liability FAQ’s
Ion channels are critical to the function of the CNS. So drugs acting on an ion channel (by design or as an unwanted side effect) can have diverse systemic effects; seizure, cognitive dysfunction, headache, mood changes, sensory disturbances, neuromuscular symptoms. It is therefore important, particularly if a drug passes the blood-brain barrier- to identify ion channel activities early in discovery.
NAMs are novel alternative methods. NAMs broadly encompass approaches that aim to refine in vivo methods or improve in vitro testing. This includes 3D tissue culture models and the use of computational methods, such as machine learning. There is increasing interest in NAMs to improve predictivity of human safety risks, including detection of seizure liability.
Our human ion channel assay coupled with assessment of electrical activity in hiPSC neuronal cells has been highlighted by the FDA/CDER as a useful NAM that should be considered as a component of the overall safety assessment for seizure liability.
MEA enables high-throughput non-invasive measurement of electrical activity from a network of heterogenous neuronal cells. This has great potential for predicting seizure liability of drug candidates as changes in neuronal firing can be measured in real-time with millisecond temporal resolution using specialised plates with electrodes. This allows for analysis of multiple parameters that illustrate the activity of neuronal networks.
A balance between inhibitory neurotransmission and neuronal excitation is critical for normal brain function. At the simplest level, seizures occur when this balance is disrupted, resulting in increased or decreased activity.
Seizures are life-threatening events and therefore serious drug-induced adverse events. The occurrence of seizure can negatively impact a drug discovery project.
Issues with drug safety and toxicity are a leading cause of attrition. After the cardiovascular system, adverse events in the Central Nervous System (CNS) are the second most common source of attrition. CNS-related issues account for nearly a quarter of failures during clinical development, a phase where consequences are high in terms of resources and patient impact. Current methods for seizure detection rely on the nonclinical rodent and non-rodent studies required to support clinical trials. This illustrates a need for better human-based methods of preclinical seizure detection.
We have developed two novel in vitro assays that provide an integrated approach to early seizure liability screening:
- A panel of 15 ion channels that can be screened using automated electrophysiology
- A microelectrode array assay that utilises human-derived neuronal stem cells to demonstrate potential seizure activity by measuring electrical activity
This approach allows exploration of compound effects on both the molecular ion channel level, and more holistically across a neuronal network.