Ncardia established following Pluriomics Axiogenesis merger
Builds foundation to become the trusted leader in hiPSC based drug discovery solutions.
Gosselies (BE), Cologne (DE), Leiden (NL), Philadelphia (USA), September 18th 2017 – Ncardia (www.ncardia.com) has been established following the merger of Pluriomics and Axiogenesis. The privately held company with operations in Europe and the US, produces and commercializes high-quality, fully functional hiPSC derived cardiovascular and neuronal cell types and develops and realizes electrophysiology, biochemistry and contraction based assays for predictive safety pharmacology, toxicology testing and drug efficacy screenings. [Read more…]
Luxcel, Axiogenesis, and BMG LABTECH Secure €2.5M for Cell Metabolism Analysis Platform
Luxcel Biosciences, Axiogenesis, and BMG LABTECH have announced €2.5M in funding to develop and launch a cell metabolism analysis platform, MetaCell™.
Together, these companies European technology subject matter experts (SMEs) have been awarded €2.5m funding from the European commission under the H2020 Fast Track to Innovation (FTI) pilot. The funding will support development of a cell metabolism analysis platform that aims to become integral to in vitro cell biology and drug development. [Read more…]
Axiogenesis Launches Cardio.Force, a Cardiac Contractile Force Assay Service
Axiogenesis, a worldwide leading provider of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS cell) products, has added a vital new service offering: Cardio.Force, a technology for measuring the contractile force of the heart. This newest service offering includes assay services for iPSC-derived cardiomyocyte functionality and toxicity assessment.
In this article:
- The Cardio.Force Technology
- Cardio.Force’s Efficiency
- The Existing “Gold Standard” for Cardiac Force Assessment
- Cor.4CE Technology Overview
- Additional Advantages of the Cardio.Force Assay Service
Contractile Force of the Heart | Cardio.Force Service
The Cardio.Force Technology
Cardio.Force is based on the Axiogenesis’s 8-channel Cor.4CE assay device. Currently, 96 well versions are in development for an increased cardiac output and the reduction of cost per data point.
![decreased contractility of heart | Axiogenesis Launches Cardio.Force, a Cardiac Contractile Force Assay Service](https://bioinformant.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/CardioForce-Cardiac-Force-Assay-Service-contractile-force-of-the-heart.jpg)
The utility of the technology was exemplified in a publication by Goßmann et al., “Mechano-Pharmacological Characterization of Cardiomyocytes Derived from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.” In the study, Goßmann concludes, “The measured data and simulations for pharmacologically unstimulated contraction resembled findings in native human heart tissue, while the pharmacological dose-response curves were highly accurate and consistent with reference data.”
Cardio.Force’s Efficiency
Such assay systems comprise the only cost-effective human in vitro technology that can measure the true cardiac contractile force of the heart. To date, common assay systems for quantitative measurement of contractility have been animal-based, which drive up cost and complexity. In contrast, the Cardio.Force assay offers an efficient system for pharmacological and toxicological studies using human cells that would otherwise require animal models or be more expensive/costly and with few cardiac outputs.
Cor.4U® human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes are plated on extremely thin and highly flexible membranes for assessment of mechanobiological properties.
The Existing “Gold Standard” for Cardiac Force Assessment
Currently, the “Gold Standard” in toxicology and physiology has been isolated animal heart (Langendorff) preparations for contractility measurements. The Langendorff heart assay is a common in vitro approach used in pharmacological and physiological testing that allows cardiac contractile strength and heart rate to be determined without requiring an intact animal.[i] The major disadvantages of this system are that it is still an animal model, is expensive, is costing $5-20K per compound, is technically challenging, and has relatively high variability.
Other emerging technologies using iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes require very high numbers of cells creating microtissues that make the technology very expensive, while the Cor.4CE system requires only 300K cells per sample measurement.
The Cor.4CE system is also reproducible and scalable, which gives it further cost advantages.
Secondary readouts that are being championed/currently pursued for analyzing and assessing cardiac contractility include impedance measurements, atomic force measurements, movement, and calcium flux analysis. These systems fail to consistently correlate with clinical data; in contrast, the Cor.4CE system does show the expected results including a positive frequency force relationship in reaction to beta-adrenergic stimulation (e.g., isoproterenol) can be observed, proving true force measurement.
Cor.4CE Technology Overview
The Axiogenesis’s Cor.4CE device involves the culture of validated human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (Cor.4U) on flexible membranes for a more physiological system. The Axiogenesis Cor.4CE Analysis software allows for derivation of the true contractile force of the heart from the measurement of the displacement of the membrane generated by the contracting cardiomyocytes. It allows for repeatable contractility measurements with unprecedented accuracy under physiological mechanical conditions. Optionally, Cor.4U cardiomyocytes can be co-cultured with Cor.4U fibroblasts in order to increase the physiological relevance of the cell system.
![cardiac output normal | Axiogenesis Launches Cardio.Force, a Cardiac Contractile Force Assay Service](https://bioinformant.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/CardioForce-Axiogenesis-contractile-force-of-the-heart.jpg)
Additional Advantages of the Cardio.Force Assay Service
- True force measurement in human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes using proprietary Cor.4CE assay technology
- Highly precise, standardized, and repeatable test system in defined/controlled culture conditions
- Sensitive and predictive for cardiac safety pharmacology
- Suitable for scale-up given low compound volumes, quick turnaround
In summary, the combination of Cor.4U with the Cor.4CE system is the first in vitro assay setup to measure the true contractile force of the heart of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes in a system suitable for scale-up. The system provides an ideal tool to assess pharmacological, safety pharmacological, and toxicological effects of drug candidates on human cardiomyocytes.
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What is your opinion about the Cardio.Force technology of Axiogenesis? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Up Next: Cynata’s iPSC-derived Cell Therapeutic (CYP-001) Meets Safety & Efficacy Endpoints
Footnote
[i] Bell, R., Mocanu, M. & Yellon, D. Retrograde heart perfusion: The Langendorff technique of isolated heart perfusion. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology 50, 940-950 (2011).
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on February 1, 2017, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
Webinar: iPSC-derived Cell Models for Oncology Applications
Human cell models to assess cardiovascular and neurological safety liabilities of cancer drugs
![Axiogenesis AG](https://bioinformant.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Axiogenesis-Company-Logo.png)
Early prediction of drug-induced toxicity is needed in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries to decrease late-stage drug attrition.
Specifically, oncology drugs have become more effective in extending the lives of patients suffering from cancer. This improved prognosis, however, is giving more time for anti-cancer drugs to exert toxic effects such as cardiotoxicity, neuropathy and more. [Read more…]
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