Icagen, Inc. and Nanion announced that Icagen has purchased a SyncroPatch384 high-throughput electrophysiology instrument and entered into an agreement to work together to develop ion channel assays for this platform.   The instrument was delivered to Icagen in May 2016 and the company has established assays for two different gene families on the platform to date.   Assay panels across specific gene families as well as development of diversity panels such as those used in safety screening across the industry will continually be added.

Douglas Krafte, Ph.D., chief scientific officer, Icagen Inc. stated, "We evaluated the available options in this technology space and are excited to have acquired the Nanion platform and to be working with this company.   We feel that the SyncroPatch384 is the ideal mechanism to leverage Icagen's decades of ion channel drug discovery experience and extensive inventory of cell lines for our customers and clients. In addition, we value the relationship with Nanion and the very high quality of engagement and depth of expertise of their people."

Rodolfo Haedo, vice president, Nanion Technologies Inc. added, "Icagen is established in the industry as leaders in ion channel HTS and R&D and have been developing assays of the highest caliber and excellence for many years. As a company that is owned and run by scientists, we believe the synergy between our teams will help further advance the field and establish new paradigms for ion channel discovery and target identification. Merging Icagen's extensive knowledge of ion channel physiology with Nanion's cutting edge technology paves a clear-cut path full of extraordinary possibilities."

Krafte concluded, "We envision this relationship will help us to expedite development of new assays on the platform in response to customer demand including some of the challenging drug discovery targets that our clients often present to us. We anticipate that our relationship with Nanion and development of experience with the platform will further our goal of becoming the first choice in the industry for drug discovery solutions in the ion channel space."

Nanion Technologies was founded in 2002 as a spin-off from the University of Munich, Center for Nanoscience (CeNS). Over the last 14 years it has grown to a strong company with over 100 employees worldwide.

Icagen partners with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to offer industry-leading scientific expertise and comprehensive access to technologies for ion channel and transporter drug discovery and development.