MICE Models: Superior to the HERG Model in Predicting Torsade de Pointes

Drug-induced block of the cardiac hERG (human Ether-a`-go-go-Related Gene) potassium channel delays cardiac repolarization and increases the risk of Torsade de Pointes (TdP), a potentially lethal arrhythmia. A positive hERG assay has been embraced by regulators as a non-clinical predictor of TdP despite a discordance of about 30%. To test whether assaying concomitant block of multiple ion channels (Multiple Ion Channel Effects or MICE) improves predictivity we measured the concentration-responses of hERG, Na_v1.5 and Ca_v1.2 currents for 32 torsadogenic and 23 non-torsadogenic drugs from multiple classes.

We used automated gigaseal patch clamp instruments to provide higher throughput along with accuracy and reproducibility. Logistic regression models using the MICE assay showed a significant reduction in false positives (Type 1 errors) and false negatives (Type 2 errors) when compared to the hERG assay. The best MICE model only required a comparison of the blocking potencies between hERG and Ca_v1.2.