NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Axiogenesis and Metrion Biosciences announced today that they have formed a collaboration to develop human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes and neurons for use in translational drug discovery.
Under the terms of their deal, Axiogenesis will provide newly developed iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes and neurons to Metrion, which will then profile and validate the cells on its screening platforms. Metrion will also use Axiogenesis cell products in its optimized ion channel screening, cardiac safety, and translational phenotypic assays.
Further terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
"Metrion is currently working with Axiogenesis iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes to validate its cardiac ion channel assays," Metrion CSO Marc Rogers said in a statement. "This new collaboration will enable us to extend this work to use iPS neurons for pain and other neuroscience therapies, and to create more predictive neurotoxicology assays that will enable the potential risk and side effects of new compounds to be assessed more accurately and cost effectively."
Axiogenesis Commercial Director Felix von Haniel added that the collaboration will "expand the range and reach of applications of Axiogenesis cells and assays, and will further underline the predictivity of our cells for drug discovery and safety and toxicology purposes."
This deal comes a few months after Metrion partnered with Axol Bioscience to improve, standardize, and more accurately predict the risk of human clinical pro-arrhythmias.