New kit cuts sample-to-result time to 75 minutes while maintaining sensitivity for drug metabolism studies.
Thermo Fisher Scientific has launched the Invitrogen TaqMan Cells-to-CT HepatoExpress Kit, designed to streamline gene expression analysis in liver cells without requiring RNA purification.
The kit enables researchers to complete sample-to-result workflows in 75 minutes, compared to traditional gene expression analysis using RNA extraction columns or magnetic beads, which typically takes two to three hours, according to a release from the company. The system maintains detection sensitivity comparable to traditional RNA purification methods while eliminating multiple workflow steps.
The product targets researchers conducting drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics studies, also known as ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) or DMPK studies. These analyses help scientists understand how potential drug candidates are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and eliminated by the body—critical factors for determining safety, effectiveness, and development viability.
“Within the biopharma industry, there is a need to incorporate drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics studies earlier in the drug discovery process to screen more compounds faster,” says Parita Ghia, senior director and general manager, genomics sample preparation at Thermo Fisher Scientific, in a release.
Sustainability Focus
The HepatoExpress Kit represents the latest addition to the Invitrogen Cells-to-CT product line, which provides solutions for reverse transcription and quantitative PCR analysis performed directly from cell lysates. This approach eliminates RNA purification steps before amplification.
Beyond workflow efficiency, the kit addresses laboratory sustainability concerns by reducing plastic waste by 90.5% compared to traditional column-based RNA purification methods through reduced plastic components in its design.
“Our Cells-to-CT HepatoExpress Kit is designed with reduced plastic components to support labs in advancing their sustainability goals while maintaining quality and delivering a streamlined workflow,” says Ghia in a release. “We’re proud to enable our customers to accelerate early-stage drug discovery research, ultimately helping the most effective drug treatments reach patients faster.”
Target Applications
The kit is designed for biotech, biopharma, and pharmaceutical scientists performing gene expression analysis during early-stage drug discovery research. The extraction-free process provides earlier insights into how potential drugs are metabolized by the liver, supporting faster compound screening and development timelines.
The system works by enabling reverse transcription and subsequent quantitative PCR analysis directly from cell lysates—the liquid produced when cells are broken open—without requiring traditional RNA purification steps that add time and materials to laboratory workflows.
Photo caption: Invitrogen TaqMan Cells-to-CT HepatoExpress Kit
Photo credit: Thermo Fisher
