Xention Limited Introduces Metrion Biosciences, A Specialist Ion Channel Screening Business
• World class expertise in ion channel electrophysiology
• European-based preclinical services business
• New comprehensive cardiac safety panel
Cambridge, UK, 13th May 2015 – Xention Limited ("Xention"), the Cambridge-based biopharmaceutical company specialising in the development of new drugs for atrial fibrillation, announced today the launch of Metrion Biosciences (www.metrionbiosciences.com), a contract screening business focused on providing comprehensive and high quality ion channel services to the pharma and biotech industry. Metrion Biosciences will provide customers with dedicated ion channel screening and assay development expertise to support enhanced cardiac safety assessment and the progression of drug discovery projects.
The Metrion Biosciences team, led by Dr Marc Rogers, VP Research, has extensive experience of ion channel research, having brought five new Xention ion channel drug candidates to the clinic, conducted multiple research collaborations with international pharma businesses, and completed several UK and European grant projects. Dr Rogers is assisted by experienced ion channel Principal Scientists Dr Kathy Sutton and Dr Rob Kirby.
Metrion Biosciences intends to launch a new panel of in vitro cardiac ion channel and human cardiomyocyte assays for better detection of cardiac safety risks in new drugs, and will work towards full accreditation of its panel under the FDA’s new Comprehensive In Vitro Proarrhythmia Assay initiative (CIPA). In addition, Metrion will market its panel of neurological ion channel assays for pharmaceutical companies to profile and de-risk new drug candidates.
“With global demand for high quality ion channel assay services growing steadily, we have identified an opportunity to commercialise Xention’s long standing specialist expertise in ion channel biology. Xention was one of the pioneers of automated patch clamp electrophysiology and our deep experience of this field has enabled the company to collaborate in ion channel research with a number of international pharmaceutical businesses while at the same time developing a portfolio of potential breakthrough drugs for the treatment of atrial fibrillation,” commented Dr Keith McCullagh, Chairman of Xention. “Metrion Biosciences represents a new initiative to commercialise our specialist ion channel expertise on a fee-for-service basis which will be more convenient and accessible for our customers.”
Media contacts
Katie Odgaard, Zyme Communications Ltd
e-mail: katie.odgaard@zymecommunications.com
Tel: +44 (0)7787 502 947
Xention Limited
Keith McCullagh, Executive Chairman
e-mail: keith.mccullagh@xention.com
Metrion Biosciences
Marc Rogers, VP Research
e-mail: marc.rogers@metrionbiosciences.com
About Metrion Biosciences
Metrion Biosciences is a wholly owned business unit of Xention Limited. It has been established from Xention’s drug discovery unit and provides customers with access to a range of high quality ion channel assays on a fee-for-service or collaboration basis. Metrion Biosciences’ specialist ion channel expertise includes an industry leading panel of in vitro cardiac ion channel safety assays, translational native cell and phenotypic assays for neurological and cardiotoxicity testing, and a range of other ion channel screening services such as cell line development and optimisation. Metrion Biosciences is able to provide tailored assay formats, data analysis and reporting solutions, effective project management and quality assured data packages. For more information see www.metrionbiosciences.com.
About Xention Limited
Xention is a leader in the discovery and development of ion channel-modulating drugs. The Company is developing a pipeline of innovative products for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common form of cardiac arrhythmia, for which there is high unmet need for new, more effective and safer medicines. Xention uses an innovative approach to discover and design potent and selective small-molecule drugs and has collaborations with several companies. The company is developing modulators of IKur (Kv1.5) and IKACh, both recognised as novel, highly new exciting targets for AF. Its investigational IKur inhibitor, XEN-D0103, is currently undergoing 2 separate Phase II studies assessing safety and efficacy in paroxysmal AF as part of a partnership with Servier for all territories of the world outside the US and Japan. For further information, please see http://www.xention.com.
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• European-based preclinical services business
• New comprehensive cardiac safety panel
Cambridge, UK, 13th May 2015 – Xention Limited ("Xention"), the Cambridge-based biopharmaceutical company specialising in the development of new drugs for atrial fibrillation, announced today the launch of Metrion Biosciences (www.metrionbiosciences.com), a contract screening business focused on providing comprehensive and high quality ion channel services to the pharma and biotech industry. Metrion Biosciences will provide customers with dedicated ion channel screening and assay development expertise to support enhanced cardiac safety assessment and the progression of drug discovery projects.
The Metrion Biosciences team, led by Dr Marc Rogers, VP Research, has extensive experience of ion channel research, having brought five new Xention ion channel drug candidates to the clinic, conducted multiple research collaborations with international pharma businesses, and completed several UK and European grant projects. Dr Rogers is assisted by experienced ion channel Principal Scientists Dr Kathy Sutton and Dr Rob Kirby.
Metrion Biosciences intends to launch a new panel of in vitro cardiac ion channel and human cardiomyocyte assays for better detection of cardiac safety risks in new drugs, and will work towards full accreditation of its panel under the FDA’s new Comprehensive In Vitro Proarrhythmia Assay initiative (CIPA). In addition, Metrion will market its panel of neurological ion channel assays for pharmaceutical companies to profile and de-risk new drug candidates.
“With global demand for high quality ion channel assay services growing steadily, we have identified an opportunity to commercialise Xention’s long standing specialist expertise in ion channel biology. Xention was one of the pioneers of automated patch clamp electrophysiology and our deep experience of this field has enabled the company to collaborate in ion channel research with a number of international pharmaceutical businesses while at the same time developing a portfolio of potential breakthrough drugs for the treatment of atrial fibrillation,” commented Dr Keith McCullagh, Chairman of Xention. “Metrion Biosciences represents a new initiative to commercialise our specialist ion channel expertise on a fee-for-service basis which will be more convenient and accessible for our customers.”
Media contacts
Katie Odgaard, Zyme Communications Ltd
e-mail: katie.odgaard@zymecommunications.com
Tel: +44 (0)7787 502 947
Xention Limited
Keith McCullagh, Executive Chairman
e-mail: keith.mccullagh@xention.com
Metrion Biosciences
Marc Rogers, VP Research
e-mail: marc.rogers@metrionbiosciences.com
About Metrion Biosciences
Metrion Biosciences is a wholly owned business unit of Xention Limited. It has been established from Xention’s drug discovery unit and provides customers with access to a range of high quality ion channel assays on a fee-for-service or collaboration basis. Metrion Biosciences’ specialist ion channel expertise includes an industry leading panel of in vitro cardiac ion channel safety assays, translational native cell and phenotypic assays for neurological and cardiotoxicity testing, and a range of other ion channel screening services such as cell line development and optimisation. Metrion Biosciences is able to provide tailored assay formats, data analysis and reporting solutions, effective project management and quality assured data packages. For more information see www.metrionbiosciences.com.
About Xention Limited
Xention is a leader in the discovery and development of ion channel-modulating drugs. The Company is developing a pipeline of innovative products for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common form of cardiac arrhythmia, for which there is high unmet need for new, more effective and safer medicines. Xention uses an innovative approach to discover and design potent and selective small-molecule drugs and has collaborations with several companies. The company is developing modulators of IKur (Kv1.5) and IKACh, both recognised as novel, highly new exciting targets for AF. Its investigational IKur inhibitor, XEN-D0103, is currently undergoing 2 separate Phase II studies assessing safety and efficacy in paroxysmal AF as part of a partnership with Servier for all territories of the world outside the US and Japan. For further information, please see http://www.xention.com.
Help employers find you! Check out all the jobs and post your resume.