Aptuit teams with Icagen for assay and ion channel knowhow
The deal – financial terms of which were not made public – will see the contract research organsations (CRO) offer combined research services, with Icagen contributing its transporter assay capabilities and Aptuit providing its discovery services.
Aptuit cited Icagen’s collection of ion channel cell lines and its proprietary XRpro platform as key drivers for the agreement.
The XRpro technology uses x-ray fluorescence for high throughput analysis of plasma membrane ion channels and transporters, including nonelectrogenic symporters and antiporters.
The use of fluorescence eliminates some of the special handling requirements that are needed when using dye, fluorophores, and radiolabel-based assay technologies.
Partnerships
Aptuit is not the only preclinical services firm to have been attracted by Icagen’s assay development knowhow.
In January, Albany Molecular Research Inc (AMRI) signed a three-year, co-marketing and development agreement with Icagen and also cited the XRpro system as a highlight.
AMRI’s deal with Icagen followed just a year after the US-headquartered contractor paid Aptuit $60m for an aseptic manufacturing site in Glasgow, UK and solid-state and analytical chemistry services site in West Lafayette, Indiana.
