Thermo Fisher Scientific has introduced the Invitrogen TaqMan Cells-to-CT HepatoExpress Kit, which enables fast, accurate gene expression analysis in liver cells (hepatocytes) without the need for RNA purification.
The kit helps researchers to simplify workflows, increase efficiency and accelerate drug development.
Without compromising data quality, this streamlined process accelerates the path from sample to results, providing earlier insights into how potential drugs are metabolised by the liver via extraction-less gene expression analysis.
Researchers can go from sample to answer in 75 minutes, compared to traditional gene expression analysis using RNA extraction columns or magnetic beads, which typically takes between two and three hours.
The kit is an ideal choice for researchers studying drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics.
These studies, known as ADME (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism and Excretion) or drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK), help scientists understand how a drug is absorbed, where it travels in the body, how it’s broken down and how it’s eventually eliminated.
Understanding these processes is essential for determining a drug candidate’s safety, effectiveness and suitability for further development.
The Cells-to-CT HepatoExpress Kit is the latest addition to the Invitrogen Cells-to-CT line, providing solutions for reverse transcription and subsequent qPCR analysis that can be performed directly from cell lysates, the liquid produced when cells are broken open.
This eliminates the need for RNA purification before amplification for increased efficiency.
"Within the biopharma industry, there is a need to incorporate drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics studies earlier in the drug discovery process to screen more compounds faster," said Parita Ghia, senior director and general manager, genomics sample preparation at Thermo Fisher Scientific.
"Our Cells-to-CT HepatoExpress Kit is designed with reduced plastic components to support labs in advancing their sustainability goals while maintaining quality and delivering a streamlined workflow."
"We’re proud to enable our customers to accelerate early-stage drug discovery research, ultimately helping the most effective drug treatments reach patients faster."