axoCells™ ventricular cardiomyocytes as functionally-relevant cardiotoxicity models – external validation against CiPA compound panel

Axol Bioscience presents external validation of its axoCells™ ventricular iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (ax2508) as a human-relevant model for cardiotoxicity screening. Cardiotoxicity remains a major hurdle in drug development, with arrhythmias like Torsades de Pointes (TdP) contributing to drug withdrawals. The study evaluates axoCells against the 28-compound CiPA panel using Clyde Biosciences’ CellOPTIQ® platform.

Key highlights include:

• CiPA compound panel testing:
  • 28 compounds categorized by TdP risk (high, intermediate, low)
  • axoCells showed expected pharmacological responses across all compounds
• Multi-channel electrophysiological relevance:
  • Verapamil: hERG blockade compensated by calcium channel effects
  • Dofetilide: classic hERG blocker causing APD prolongation and quiescence
  • Ranolazine: multi-ion channel effects including hERG, early and late Na⁺ channels
• Assay endpoints:
  • Action potential duration at 90% repolarization (APD90)
  • Arrhythmic events including early afterdepolarizations (EADs) and quiescence
  • Dose-dependent triangulation and beat pattern changes
• Model capabilities:
  • Expression of key ion channels
  • Response to calcium channel blockers (e.g., nifedipine) and sodium channel blockers (e.g., terfenadine)
  • Graded response correlating with known torsadogenic risk

This validation confirms axoCells™ ventricular cardiomyocytes as a robust platform for in vitro cardiac safety testing, capable of detecting proarrhythmic risk and supporting regulatory toxicology workflows.

Featured Axol Product:

• axoCells™ Ventricular Cardiomyocytes (ax2508) – Validated for CiPA panel cardiotoxicity screening and multi-channel electrophysiological profiling.