Transforming research through technology

Back in the year 2000, a small group of dedicated, curious people asked themselves questions like this. Today, we are an established, integrated part of the global ion channel community — and we can safely say that we did what we set out to do… and then some.

Passion is not something you force — it simply pulls your focus without effort.
We can’t help but ask questions and chase the answers; it seems to be our way of moving forward.

How can we take the tediousness and mystery out of patch clamping?
Our first answer came in 2001:

Apachi, the world’s first automated patch clamp system.

Q: Can we refine it, and take this technology further?
A: QPatch 16 was launched in 2005.

Q: What if we could increase throughput?
A: In 2008, QPatch 48 arrived.

Q: How can we help researchers improve scalability?
A: In 2014, we introduced Qube, our 384-format platform.

Q: Can we think different? What about smaller-scale needs?
A: QPatch Compact followed in 2021, offering a flexible-automated solution for labs with lower throughput requirements.

Each accomplishment led to the next question—and the next breakthrough.

Today, Sophion is a global organization with subsidiaries in Japan, China, and the USA, enabling both international collaboration and strong local presence.
Our initiatives like ICMS, User Meetings, and travel grants answer other important questions—about ion channel modulation, research community building, and knowledge sharing.

25 years of collaboration is a solid foundation. We’re proud to be an integrated part of the ion channel community, and we intend to stay that way. As we explore new technologies, we remain committed to advancing our automated patch clamp solutions, delivering new features and applications through frequent updates — always shaped by user feedback.

In February, we launched the Qube 384 Dynamic Platform, a proprietary, flexible platform fully prepared for your future needs. Other recent innovations include high-resistance consumables for organelles and small-hole applications, just to name a few. We’re also expanding our global service and support network to support you wherever you are.

Creating something like Sophion takes a combined effort, a mix of skills, backgrounds, and personalities and we believe that pure passion is what defines the wonderfully diverse individuals who have contributed along the way. Many people have joined us on this journey, some for a short time, some for longer, and a few since the very beginning.

A big shoutout to everyone involved, past and present.

Being closely involved in the development of new drugs and treatments for over 25 years—work that can improve well-being, bring hope, and ultimately save lives, is a true privilege. It inspires us every day to keep moving forward.

The fact that our work aligns directly with the UN’s global goal about good health and well-being is a pretty good indicator that we are doing something right. The recent launch of our new contractility platform, Ethica M, perfectly illustrates how we connect the dots between automation, technology, and biology. As the global ethical call to reduce dependence on animal studies continues to grow, we’re proud that Ethica M is part of the solution. It’s a strong signal of the new ways we aim to empower scientific research.

What better way to mark 25 years? We can’t think of one.

After 25 years, our drive to explore and innovate remains as strong as ever. It’s a natural extension of the journey we’ve been on, defined by curiosity, open-mindedness, and a constant push for innovation. It’s always been at the heart of Sophion.

That’s why, this year, we’re embracing a message that says it all in just two words:

Discover More

To us, it’s more than just a slogan. It’s an invitation to our current and future users to grow, and develop new drugs faster–and to stay curious.
We hope you will join.

On behalf of the Sophion team
Michel Jürgens,
CEO