Characterization of hERG Channel Blockers Using the FLIPR Potassium Assay Kit on the FlexStation Multi-Mode Microplate Reader

Drug-induced inhibition of the human ether-à-go-go-related gene (hERG) ion channel has been related to the susceptibility of patients to potentially fatal ventricular tachyarrhythmia, torsade de pointes. In recent years, a number of FDA-approved drugs were withdrawn from the market due to their off-target effect on hERG. As a result, there has been an increasing need for identifying compounds that block the hERG channel at earlier stages in the drug discovery process. Here we present the utility of a new potassium assay kit on the FlexStation^® 3 Multi-Mode Microplate Reader to investigate hERG compound activity.