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The drug discovery process in pharmaceutical companies begins withidentifying potential targets for new diseases. One important class of targetsis ion channels that regulate the flow of ions across cellular membranes andtherefore influence the physiology of all cells. Patch clamp is a widelyapplied gold-standard technique for the study of ion channels. Speed andaccuracy of automated patch clamp systems are heavily demanded bypharmaceutical companies working with development of ion channel-based drugs.
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The newly introduced QPatch HT is the world's first 48-channel gigasealpatch clamp system that can be applied to both voltage-gated and ligand-gatedion channels. With its ability to generate thousands of high-quality datapoints daily, QPatch HT is enabling new screening paradigms in ion channeldrug discovery and safety testing on a truly industrial basis. It is claimedto be taking automated patch clamping to a new and even more powerful level.
"We hope the acquisition of the QPatch technology will assist WuXiPharmaTech in expanding their services into the rapidly increasing fields ofcardiac safety testing and ion channel drug discovery," commented FrankHenrichsen, Vice President Sales and Marketing in Sophion Bioscience, thesupplier of QPatch HT.
"We are very pleased to have installed the first QPatch HT automated patchclamp system in China, and indeed, the first ever such unit in any integrateddrug and medical device R&D outsourcing service company," Dr. Peng Wang, VicePresident of Discovery Biology at WuXi PharmaTech, said excitedly, "It willgreatly enhance our drug R&D service capabilities and productivity. We willcontinue investing in cutting-edge discovery technologies as we strive toserve our global clients better."
About WuXi PharmaTech
WuXi PharmaTech is a leading pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medicaldevice R&D outsourcing company, with operations in China and the United States.As a research-driven and customer-focused company, WuXi PharmaTech providespharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies a broad andintegrated portfolio of laboratory and manufacturing services throughout thedrug and medical device R&D process. WuXi PharmaTech's services are designedto assist its global partners in shortening the cycle and lowering the cost ofdrug and medical device R&D. For more information, please visit:http://www.wuxipharmatech.com .
SOURCE WuXi PharmaTech
