This market report summarizes the results of HTStec’s industry-wide global web-based benchmarking survey on outsourced ion channel testing carried out in April 2013.

• The study was initiated by HTStec as part of its ongoing tracking of emerging life science marketplaces. The questionnaire was compiled to meet the needs and interests of the outsourced ion channel testing provider community.
• The main objectives were to comprehensively document current use of and potential interest in outsourcing ion channel primary screening, selectivity profiling and safety liability testing. The survey also investigated access to and future purchasing of stably transfected ion channel cell lines.
• Equal emphasis was given to soliciting opinion from Pharma, Biotech and Academic Research segments, mainly in North America and Europe.

• The survey looked at the following aspects of outsourced ion channel testing, as practiced to date (2013) and in some cases as predicted for the future (2015): current targeting of ion channels as therapeutic targets using primary screening; number of on-going screening programs with ion channels as a therapeutic target; preferred and alternative primary screening platform technology; current outsourcing of ion channel primary screening; why some respondents have you not outsourced ion channel primary screening to date; current level of interest in outsourcing ion channel primary screening; primary screening platforms respondents would most like to access at a fee-for-service service provider; primary screening services respondents most envision accessing and pricepoints for those services; stage where respondents are most interested in outsourcing ion channel selectivity profiling; preferred selection of assays when deciding on ion channel selectivity profiling; ion channel panels of most interest when considering selectivity profiling; technology platforms respondents most want to access at a fee-for-service service provider for selectivity profiling; with respect to patch clamping data the preferred vendor’s platform; current level of interest in outsourcing ion channel selectivity profiling; current outsourcing of ion channel selectivity profiling; what motivates selection of an ion channel selectivity profiling service provider; selectivity profiling services respondents most envision accessing and pricepoints for those services; aspects of ion channel safety liability testing that are outsourced; current level of interest in outsourcing safety liability testing; current outsourcing of ion channel safety liability testing; what motivates selection of an ion channel safety liability testing service provider; outsourcing budget for all ion channel testing done at fee-for-service labs and its breakdown into service categories; type of service providers most interested in accessing for ion channel outsourcing; importance of different ion channel testing services offered; preferred fee-for-service providers of ion channel primary screening, ion channel selectivity profiling and ion channel safety liability testing; most trusted and most used ion channel services providers; respondents with access to stably transfected ion channel cell lines in house; source of stably transfected cell lines used; plans to purchase any stably transfected cell lines over the next few years; budget allocation to purchase stably transfected cell lines; and any unmet needs in outsourced ion channel testing.
• The survey questionnaire consisted of 32 mainly multi-choice questions. In addition, there were 6 questions related solely to survey demographics.
• The survey collected 88 validated responses, of these 74% provided comprehensive input.
• Survey responses were geographically split: 50% North America; 38% Europe; 9% Asia (excluding Japan); and 3% Japan.
• Survey respondents were drawn from persons or groups actively using or interested in using outsourced ion channel primary screening, selectivity profiling and safety liability testing.
• Respondents came from: 19 Universities; 18 Large Pharma; 12 Biotech Companies; 12 Hospitals/Clinics/ Medical Schools; 11 Medium-Small Pharma; 6 Government Labs; 4 Research Institutes; 4 Other; and 2 Not-For-Profit Research Centers.
• Most survey respondents had a senior job role or position which was in descending order: 27 research scientists; 11 senior scientists/researchers; 10 professors/assistant professors; 10 section/group leaders; 8 directors; 5 principal investigators; 5 department heads; 4 others; 3 outsourcing managers; 3 vice presidents; and 2 lab managers.
• Survey results were expressed as an average of all survey respondents. In addition, where appropriate the data was reanalyzed after sub-division into the following 5 survey groups: 1) Large Pharma; 2) Other Screening Labs; 3) Academic Research; 4) Europe; and 5) North America.
• 55% of respondents were investigating/targeting ion channels as therapeutic targets using primary screening, with a median of 4 screening programs being undertaken today (2013).
• Where primary screening of ion channels was undertaken the preferred platform was fluorescence-based ion flux assays (e.g. FLIPR).
• Only 25% of respondents have outsourced the primary screening of ion channels to date and most of this was done at ChanTest. Some feedback on why some respondents have not yet outsourced ion channel primary screening was documented.
• The current (2013) level of interest in outsourcing ion channel primary screening was low and most of this was small-scale (10-100 compounds screened). The median pricepoint for accessing this outsourced primary screening was $1-$2 maximum price per data point.
• Of those respondents interested/involved in outsourcing primary screening a median of 2 programs per year were outsourced today (2013). The preferred platform accessed was automated patch-clamp (APC).
• Most respondents want to outsource selectivity profiling after secondary/counter screening.
• Selection by target was the preferred way of selecting assays for inclusion in selectivity profiling panels.
• A pain-inflammation channel panel was most wanted panel for selectivity profiling.
• The preferred platform technology for selectivity profiling to be accessed at a service provider was APC.
• After manual patch clamp the preferred vendor’s platform for patch clamping data was Sophion QPatch HT.
• The median use of outsourced selectivity profiling today (2013) was 100-250 data points per year.
• Only 35% of respondents have outsourced selectivity profiling of ion channels to date and most of that was done at ChanTest.
• Data quality (e.g. GΩ versus MΩ seal data) was rated of greatest influence in selecting an ion channel selectivity profiling provider.
• The following scenarios were envisaged for outsourced selectivity profiling services; 1) selection by target; 2) median 6 to 10 channels per profile; 3) median 6 to 10 compounds per profile; and 4) median $1-$2 maximum price per data point price.
• hERG ion channel assays were the aspect of ion channel safety liability testing respondents most want to outsource today (2013).
• A median 6 to 10 compounds per year were outsourced for safety liability testing today (2013).
• Only 24% of respondents have outsourced safety liability testing of ion channels to date and most of that was done at ChanTest.
• Price was ranked what most influences the selection of an ion channel safety liability provider.
• The median annual outsourcing budget for all ion channel testing was $5K-$10K today (2013), with the biggest proportion spent on selectivity profiling.
• A bottom-up model was developed around the respondent’s outsourcing budgets to estimate the global market for outsourced ion channel testing. The total market was estimated to be around $43Millon in 2013. Details of markets’ CAGR, segmentation and component breakdown are given.
• The majority of respondents are interested in accessing a speciality CRO for ion channel outsourcing.
• Selectivity profiling (ion channels only) was rated the offering an ion channel service provider must provide.
• The most preferred providers of ion channel primary screening were Evotec, ChanTest, Life Technologies and BioFocus.
• The most preferred providers of ion channel selectivity profiling were ChanTest, EMD-Millipore, Cerep and Essen Biosciences.
• The most preferred providers of ion channel safety liability testing were ChanTest, EMD-Millipore and Cerep.
• The most trusted and the most used fee-for-service provider of ion channel testing was ChanTest.
• Most respondents do not have access to stably transfected ion channel cell lines in house.
• Of those respondents using stably transfected ion channel cell lines most developed them in house.
• A median budget of $2.5K-$5K will be allocated to purchase of stably transfected ion channel cell lines over the coming years (up to 2015).
• Some limited feedback on unmet needs in outsourced ion channel testing is detailed.
• The full report provides the data, details of the breakdown of the responses for each question, its segmentation and the estimates for the future (2015). It also highlights some interesting differences between the survey groups.

Outsourced Ion Channel Testing Trends 2013 published by HTStec Ltd in 3 May 2013.and the price starts from US $ 2500.