Market Size (2018)
2018
—
Vertical: HealthcareBase Year: 202112 Sections
Market Size (2018)
2018
—
Projected (2030)
2030
—
CAGR (2018–2030)
N/A
Key Players
103+
The hERG screening is a crucial aspect of drug development that involves assessing the potential of drugs or other compounds to block hERG potassium channels in the heart. These channels play a critical role in regulating the electrical activity of the heart and blocking them can cause a potentially life-threatening condition known as long QT syndrome (LQTS). LQTS can result in arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death, making it important to identify potential cardiac safety risks early in the drug development process.
HERG Screening Market is a key focus area for market intelligence and strategic research.
Historical performance and future projections (2020–2030, USD Billion)
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View Subscription PlansThe hERG (human ether-a-go-go related gene) screening is a process that is used to test the safety of drugs and other compounds with regards to their potential to cause cardiac arrhythmias. The hERG gene codes for a potassium channel that plays a critical role in regulating the heart's electrical activity. Disruptions in this channel can lead to a prolonged QT interval, which can cause arrhythmias such as torsades de pointes and sudden cardiac death. Overall, hERG screening plays a critical role in ensuring the safety of new drugs and compounds, particularly with regards to their potential impact on cardiac function
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View Subscription PlansThis report applies a rigorous multi-stage research process combining primary interviews, secondary data sources, and bottom-up market modelling to ensure accuracy and completeness across all segments and geographies.
Base Year
2021
Historical Period
2018 – 2021
Forecast Period
2021 – 2030
Primary Interviews
150+
Historical data (2018–2021) and forecast period (2021–2030)
Our research process spans primary interviews with industry stakeholders combined with comprehensive secondary data analysis, validated through triangulation across multiple independent sources.
Threat of New Entrants
The threat of new entrants in the global hERG screening market is moderate. The global hERG screening market is growing steadily which attracts new players. However, the entry barriers such as the high cost of developing new assays and the complexity of the regulatory environment hamper the entry of new players. However, awareness of hERG screening in early drug discovery is rising, and so are the number of clinical trials. Companies aim to increase their market share and capture the market share which is mostly untouched by major players in emerging markets. Hence, the threat of new entrants in the global hERG screening market is expected to be moderate.
Bargaining Power of Suppliers
The bargaining power of suppliers in the global hERG screening market is moderate as there is an increase in demand for raw materials by pharmaceutical companies for hERG screening. However, the number of suppliers providing quality raw materials are less, which is slightly increases the bargaining power of suppliers. Additionally, the supply of raw materials is disrupted to some level due to the logistics issues that the world is facing currently, which in turn increases the bargaining power of suppliers. In conclusion the bargaining power of suppliers is expected to be moderate.
Threat of Substitutes
The threat of substitutes in the hERG Screening is expected to be low during the study period. For hERG Screening, there is no substitute to hERG inhibition screening apart from using assays. However, there are substitutes to existing products and services offered by different key players. There are several players offering similar services and products at competitive prices, which increases the threat of substitutes among players. However, the threat is expected to be low for the overall market.
Bargaining Power of Buyers
The bargaining power of buyers is low in the global hERG screening market. hERG inhibition is a major cause for failure in clinical trials. It has led to discontinuation in around 20%-40% of preclinical lead compounds. Hence, end users want to rely on high quality and accurate products and services for hERG screening. This decreases the bargaining power of buyers as they are ready to pay the premium to get accurate results.
Intensity of Rivalry
The degree of competition in the hERG Screening market is high owing to there are several key players in the market, each with their own products and services. Additionally, the market is constantly evolving as new drugs and therapies are developed and approved requiring hERG screening, leading to intense competition for market share. Companies must continue to invest in research and development to stay competitive and meet the changing needs of pharma companies and healthcare providers. Such factors might increase the level of product differentiation and will support the sales of the manufacturers.
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Analytical insights on HERG Screening Market covering market dynamics, competitive landscape, and strategic outlook.
HERG Screening Market represents a significant market opportunity with multiple growth drivers across regions and segments.
hERG is a gene that codes for a protein known as Kv11.1, the alpha subunit of a potassium ion channel. This ion channel is best known for its contribution to the electrical activity of the heart that coordinates the heart's beating. Increasing novel drug approvals and increasing prevalence of heart diseases are driving factors for the global hERG screening market. However, the high cost of hERG screening products is expected to hamper the growth of this market during the forecast period. Nevertheless, rising number of strategic initiatives are likely to set a lucrative opportunity for the growth of this market in the near future.
The hERG is a gene that codes for the protein known as Kvll .1, the alpha Subunit of a potassium-ion channel. This helps to regulate the heartbeat by supplying a repolarizing current to the cardiac action potential. The Increasing number of product launches is anticipated to boost the demand for these hERG screenings in the coming years. According to the annual report published by the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), an estimated 59 drugs received novel drugs approved for marketing in 2018, whereas 50 in 2021. The increasing number of novel drug approvals is expected to support the drug discovery process that helps to growth of the hERG screening market. Numbers of Novel Drug approvals.
Furthermore, the increasing healthcare expenditure is also aiding in market growth. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in February 2021, released a new report on global health expenditure, according to which global spending on health increased in low- and middle-income countries by 6% and in high-income countries by 4%. Thus, the increasing healthcare expenditure also helping to drive the growth of the global hERG screening market.
The hERG or the human Ether-a-go-go-Related Gene is a gene that codes for the protein known as Kv11.1, the alpha subunit of a potassium ion channel. It is used in the contribution to the activity of the heart. Its channels moderate the repolarizing current in the cardiac action potential, and it helps in the beating of the heart. Some of the assays of the hERG screening are like manual, automatic patch clamp assay, hERG radio ligand binding assay, fluorescence polarization assay, microelectrode array. Rise in the number of strategic initiatives in the form of mergers, acquisitions, product approval, collaborations, and partnerships to gain a competitive edge and offer advanced treatment options for a hERG screening. For instance, in in March 2020, Charles River Laboratories entered a partnership with Deciphex, a leader in preclinical digital pathology software-as-a-service. In addition to Charles River being the exclusive contract research organization distributing the Patholytix preclinical solution to clients, the organizations will work together to co-develop deep learning-enabled tools to support accelerated pathology analytics.
The high cost associated with hERG screening is adversely affecting the market growth. hERG binding assay can block the hERG channel and that can be implemented early in drug discovery. The hERG binding assay does not directly measure the effect of compounds on the hERG channel and therefore it is formally possible to miss or underestimate the potency of hERG-blocking compounds. Additionally, the use of advanced technology has resulted in increased cost of products used in screening process such as Eurofins DiscoverX Corporation offers PrecisION recombinant hERG potassium ion channel membrane preparation for USD 879 per vial.
Moreover, hERG functional assays, such as patch clamp, provide valuable information about a compound’s ability to block the hERG channel in a living cell but it is typically used relatively late in drug discovery. Patch clamp is a highly informative hERG functional assay, but its use is limited by its labour-intensive nature, the requirement for specialized equipment, and its relatively high cost. Thus, owing to the high cost, some of these barriers to early-stage testing of compounds by patch clamp, which in turn hampers the global hERG screening market growth in the forthcoming years.
The COVID-19 pandemic originated in Wuhan in the Hubei Province of China in December 2019. The etiologic agent is a novel Coronavirus with a presumed zoonotic origin and a structure similar to the viruses associated with the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). Similar to SARS and MERS, the COVID-19 infection frequently manifests with mild respiratory symptoms. A small share of patients with mild respiratory symptoms progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome or diffuse alveolar damage.
The COVID-19 pandemic escalated significantly during the first phase of the pandemic for which the market players were not prepared. Several restrictions were put in place that impacted the smooth functioning of businesses across the globe. The same was experienced by the players in the medical robotics market. Key players such as Thermo Fisher (US) and Merck KGaA (Germany) reported that the restrictions had led to delays in direct sales of products and services, training, closure of facilities, and would negatively impact their quarterly earnings in 2020 and 2021. Furthermore, players reported disruptions in supply chains as most key players have global operations which were impacted by the restrictions ad trade ban. However, the supply chains were restored in 2021 as policies were put in place to safeguard the healthcare supply chains. Hence, a resumption of operations was seen for the majority of the market players by the second half of 2020. Additionally, a complete restoration of services and supply chain was seen by 2021 as the cases declined, number of vaccinated people increased, and restriction were lifted across the globe gradually.
Clinical trials are irreplaceable aspects of the pharmaceutical industry, a huge driver of company valuations, and the greatest hope for patients suffering from poorly managed diseases. In clinical trials, laboratory tests are used for establishing the inclusion and exclusion criteria, determining the baseline parameters, monitoring the safety of the participants, and demonstrating the efficacy of the investigational product. Drug discovery is the essential preclinical stage where the lead compound is identified. hERG screening is also performed in the initial stages of drug discovery.
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the functioning of several companies and CROs which negatively impacted the clinical trial landscape globally. According to a survey by the Cancer Research Institute (CRI) in 2020, in the US and several countries in Europe, patient enrolment in active oncology clinical trials reduced significantly at the time of the survey. In Europe, only 14% of the institutions continued to enroll patients at the usual rate. Over 200 interventional oncology studies were suspended, and 60% of investigators reported that the pandemic had a severe impact on clinical trials.
Similarly, Clinical SCORE surveyed 363 clinical trial sites across a range of settings, provider specialties, and countries in April 2020. 36% of sites awaiting trial activation reported that the sponsors had postponed recruitment and enrollment, while 48% of sites actively enrolling and randomizing patients said they could not get patients to come for a visit. Research-dedicated sites and those with more than ten trials appear to be the most receptive to virtual visits. The percentage of enrolling sites experiencing substantial delays ranged from 54% to 61% in 2020.
The COVID-19 outbreak has affected the clinical trials and observational studies across the globe as major companies and institutes are facing issues in recruiting volunteers for the study. Additionally, the delays faced owing to the lack of staff is negatively affecting the clinical trials. However, as the impact of the pandemic nullified, most clinical trials resumed their activities.
Profiles of 103 companies operating in the HERG Screening Market market, including revenue, employee count, and market positioning where available.
Showing 103 of 103 companies
Aurora Biomed Inc.
Company Headquarters: Vancouver, Canada Founded: 1990 Workforce: ~50 Company Working: Aurora Biomed Inc. operates in the life sciences, drug discovery & safety, and chemical analysis research segments. It operates in three main business segments: liquid handling equipment, elemental analysis solutions, and ion channel technologies. It specializes in elemental analysis, robotics, biotechnology, laboratory automation, COVID-19, drug discovery, and ion channels. The company focuses on maintaining quality, accuracy, and precision while delivering solutions. It also caters to the needs of the life sciences, molecular diagnostics, and precision medicine fields. It has a strong distribution network in more than 80 countries across the globe. It also has a dedicated office to cater to the needs of Asia and North America. The company is well known for its cutting-edge technology and innovative research, which provide unique solutions to its customers.
Metrion Biosciences Limited
Company Headquarters: Cambridge, UK Founded: 2015 Workforce: ~ 50 Company Working: Metrion Biosciences Limited is a contract research organization that provides high-quality ion channel screening and drug development expertise. It offers in-vitro screening services that include cardiac safety (hERG, CiPA panel of human cardiac ion channels), neurotoxicology testing, and phenotypic assays, which are its core expertise services. It also has a state-of-the-art laboratory, which is located at Granta Park, Cambridge (UK). It caters to the needs of customers located in major markets, including Europe, America, and Asia.
Creative Bioarray
Company Headquarters: New York, US Founded: 2004 Workforce: ~ 200 Company Working: Creative Bioarray is an innovative biotechnology company. It is involved in the development and manufacturing of high-quality normal human and animal cells, cell culture medium and reagents, FISH probes, tissue arrays, microorganisms, and equipment for various applications. The company has a strong customer base in various industries, including the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agricultural, and diagnostic industries. Additionally, it provides solutions to reference and testing laboratories, academic institutions, government agencies, and private foundations. It has a strong network of distributors that is present in all the major markets, including the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. As well, the company has offices in Europe and the US.
B'SYS GMBH
Company Headquarters: Switzerland, Europe Founded: 2004 Workforce: ~50 Company Working: B'SYS GMBH assists pharmaceutical companies with Ion Channel Discovery. The company's primary focus is on the rapid screening of new substances against ion channel drug targets. B'SYS' technological innovation addresses the need for electrophysiological tools in HTS Drug Discovery lead identification and candidate selection. Data generation takes place in a Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) environment. For the analysis of test items, cutting-edge technology is used by the company. Any test item's study results can be traced back to the original raw data, including the SOPs in effect at the time, the storage conditions of the test item, and the staff training records.
Cyprotex Discovery Limited
Company Headquarters: England, UK Founded: 1999 Workforce: ~120 Company Working: Cyprotex Discovery Limited specializes in ADME-Tox in vitro and in silico services. In vitro ADME screening to support discovery projects, regulatory in vitro ADME and DDI studies during preclinical and clinical development, specialist mechanistic in vitro human and animal toxicity models (e.g. 3D models and MEA electrophysiology), and PBPK/QSAR modeling expertise are all part of this. In addition to directly assisting clients, the company places a strong emphasis on R&D, with its scientists regularly presenting their findings at scientific conferences and through publications. Cyprotex, an Evotec company, and has facilities in Alderley Park near Macclesfield, UK, and Framingham, Massachusetts, USA. The company employs dedicated and highly qualified individuals who have demonstrated experience in a wide range of specialist techniques acquired across various industries. The majority of its clients are involved in pharmaceutical research, but it also works with clients in the chemical, cosmetics and personal care, agrichemical, and tobacco industries.
Eurofins Discovery
Company Headquarters: Missouri, US Founded: 1987 Workforce: ~100 Company Working: Eurofins Discovery offers cutting-edge testing services and product tools to help researchers accelerate the discovery and development of candidate molecules. This mission is made possible by its global team of dedicated scientists, information analysts, and client support professionals. The company's focus drives it to constantly expand its portfolio of testing methods, tools, and services to enable real, long-term improvements in human health. Eurofins Scientific has carefully constructed an industry-leading network of over 1,000 independent companies operating over 900 laboratories in 61 countries. Eurofins Discovery is the drug discovery engine of Eurofins Scientific.
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HERG Screening Market