Researchers use Beating Heart Muscles to Test Safety of Drugs

Researchers have developed a new technique that uses beating heart muscles to test safety of drugs.

The latest research could help scientists understand how test drugs will affect the heart muscles without conducting animal or human trials.

The new technique, developed by researchers at the Coventry University, could save both time and money spent on studies on drug safety and efficacy.

A major problem while testing for newer drugs is that researchers have no idea how the chemicals will affect heart muscles. Finding whether or not the drugs are safe for the heart is both time consuming and expensive.

Now, Dr Helen Maddock - an expert in cardiovascular physiology and pharmacology from the University's Centre for Applied Biological and Exercise Sciences - has shown that beating heart muscles can be used in a laboratory setting.

In this technique, heart muscle is attached to a rig that allows the muscles to move during electrical stimulation. The set-up mimics the biomechanical functions of the heart.

The trial drugs can be introduced into the system to see if they affect the movement of heart muscles. Researchers can then determine whether or not the drugs are safe for the heart.

"I'm delighted that our research is at a stage where we can confidently say the work-loop assay we've created is the world's only clinically relevant in vitro human model of cardiac contractility. It has the potential to shave years off the development of successful drugs for a range of treatments," Maddock said in a news release.

Researchers have created a spin-out company - InoCardia Ltd and have also received funding from Mercia Fund Management.

"InoCardia benefits from a proprietary approach following many years of investigation by Helen and her team, and offers the potential for early screening of compounds in development without the initial need for extensive animal trials," said Mark Payton, managing director of Mercia Fund Management.