Highlights
- Cardiac output and vascular function
- ECG & Holters
- Organ blood flow: forearm, kidney, liver, carotid artery
- Coagulation
Summary
Cardiovascular safety
When developing a new drug, safety is always our top priority. If a test compound is likely to cause severe adverse effects, particularly with respect to cardiovascular safety, it is crucial to know this as early as possible in the development process. At CHDR, we recognise the paramount importance of performing a thorough analysis of a compound’s potential cardiovascular risks. Cardiovascular safety is also becoming ever more crucial in light of ageing populations, as the elderly are more vulnerable to adverse cardiovascular effects.
Practical answers to important research questions
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Is our compound potentially arrhythmogenic?
Compounds designed to treat cardiac and/or non-cardiac conditions can interfere with cardiac rhythm, for example by interfering with one or more ion channels. Using our unique approach to analysing ECG data, we can detect subtle changes in cardiac rhythm, indicating the need for further study.
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Does our compound cause a prolonged QT interval?
At CHDR, we use an innovative approach to measure the test compound's effect on the QT interval, which serves as an important indicator of the compound’s safety profile. By reducing variability, this approach can provide sponsors with key safety data.
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Does our compound interact with the cardiac NaV1.5 sodium channel?
To study the effects of putative anti-arrhythmic compounds that target the cardiac NaV1.5 sodium channel, we can perform a panel of highly sensitive measurements, including the duration of the QRS complex and ventricular activation time, which provide a measure of NaV1.5 channel activity.
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Does our compound affect myocardial function?
Some compounds can affect myocardial function, particularly after prolonged use. However, measuring a change in healthy subjects after just a single dose requires tools that are robust and extremely sensitive. Such tools are available as part of CHDR’s Cardiology Services.
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Is our compound effective at treating atrial fibrillation?
Finding clear evidence that a paroxysmal arrhythmia has been treated successfully can be highly challenging, particularly in patients who experience asymptomatic episodes, for example in the case of atrial fibrillation. To overcome this, CHDR uses non-invasive, highly sensitive wearable devices that can detect cardiac arrhythmia during long-term monitoring.
