Metrion Biosciences ("Metrion") is a UK-based contract research organisation (CRO) specialising in a class of human proteins called ion channels. The company was formed in September 2015 and provides early stage pharmaceutical research and safety assessment services to the worldwide pharmaceutical and life sciences industry. Metrion combines intellectual understanding of the ion channel target class with depth of early stage drug discovery expertise, with a significant proportion of the drug discovery knowledge being gained successfully providing services to pharmaceutical industry clients or within the industry itself. Metrion Bioscience core product offering is centred around a technique known as electrophysiology, the assessment and quantification of small electrical currents and changes in voltage fields across the cell membranes of biological model systems and native tissues. Metrion's staff are amongst the most experienced ion channel scientists and users of automated patch clamp equipment in the world, with Metrion team members having pioneered the technique for drug discovery research during its infancy. Metrion have been working with the FDA on the CiPA initiative working party to develop a robust set of in vitro cardiac ion channel (CiPA) assays which would predict cardiac arrhythmias. Metrion will implement a "green biology" strategy for developing an in vitro safety screening service used for drug regulatory purposes. The zero-carbon approach would look at reducing direct and indirect carbon usage associated with this project, including waste (plasticware/consumables), transport, water, and energy usage (Carbon Trust's guidelines, 2020).

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"Metrion Biosciences recently (January 2018) established a specialist ion channel drug discovery subsidiary, Metrion Pharma Ltd (Metrion). The Company is wholly owned by Metrion Biosciences. Ion channels are proteins located in cell membranes that are responsible for controlling nerve impulses, muscle contractions, beating of the heart, function of the senses and the physiological activity of many other cells and tissues. Based at Granta Park, Cambridge, Metrion Pharma has a expert understanding of the function of ion channels in health and disease and a unique skillset to design and develop medicines against these proteins. Metrion Biosciences identified small molecule inhibitors of potassium channels involved in auto-immune conditions such as psoriasis, multiple sclerosis and atopic dermatitis, and this portfolio has been licensed to Metrion Pharma (Metrion). This grant will enable Metrion to create a unique human T-cell model of autoimmune diseases to improve the likelihood of success in clinical trials and to decrease attrition in the drug development process. If successful, this grant funded project will enable Metrion to pioneer the development of medicines that have been tested in human cells, thereby reducing attrition of the drug development process. This project will form the foundation for Metrion to build its drug discovery pipeline. Metrion's management team and advisors have extensive experience in ion channel research, autoimmune drug discovery and medicinal chemistry, and have a successful track record in delivering new drug molecules to the clinic. Through this grant Metrion will exploit its drug discovery expertise to create new assays to reduce risk in the development process. Testing of Metrion's lead potassium channel molecules will support the generation of orally active disease modifying agents for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, with a particular focus on unmet medical needs in multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis."

"-- Metrion Bioscience Ltd (Metrion) is an ion channel specialist contract research organisation and has recently begun building its drug discovery and development capability. The company is based at Granta Park, Cambridge, with a core expertise in ion channel drug discovery and neuroscience. Metrion's R&D is focused on designing and discovering molecules for the treatment of debilitating Autoimmune disorders. The management team and advisors have extensive experience in this field and have previously raised significant equity funding and have a track record in delivering molecules to the clinic. -- Metrion is pioneering the discovery of oral medicines with the potential to change the underlying causes of psoriasis. The successful treatments for psoriasis predominantly provide symptomatic relief only, nevertheless this has created a $7bn market. Metrion's approach has the potential to radically modify/halt the progression of psoriasis impacting the patient and the healthcare system. -- Metrion through this grant will exploit its drug discovery expertise to identify small molecule inhibitors of potassium channels which has been linked to autoimmune disease and neurodegeneration. Further modification of these lead molecules subsequent to this project will allow the generation of orally active agents for the treatment of other autoimmune disease."

"Metrion Bioscience Ltd (Metrion) is a specialist ion channel contract research organisation (CRO) and drug discovery company. Ion channels are proteins located in cell membranes that are responsible for controlling nerve impulses, muscle contractions, beating of the heart, function of the senses and the physiological activity of many other cells and tissues. Based at Granta Park, Cambridge, Metrion is an international leader in methods of measuring the function of ion channels in health and disease. As part of its proprietary research, Metrion has identified small molecule inhibitors of a particular potassium channel known as Kv1.3 involved in auto-immune conditions such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Recent research suggests that potent and selective inhibitors of this channel may also be effective in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) The grant will enable Metrion to explore the potential of its Kv1.3 inhibitors to treat MS using human T-cell models of the disease and to develop improved compounds that can be administered orally and are optimised to penetrate into brain and nerve tissues affected by MS. If successful, this grant funded project will enable Metrion to pioneer the development of oral medicines with the potential to change the underlying causes of progressive MS. Current treatments for MS predominantly provide symptomatic relief of the relapsing/remitting phase of the disease but do not alter the progressive, debilitating nature of MS. Nevertheless, current approved medicines for MS have annual sales of approximately $22bn. Metrion's approach has the potential to fulfil an unmet need and improve treatment by radically modifying and slowing the progression of disability and cognitive decline, making MS more manageable for the patient and carer and cost effective to treat. Metrion's management team and advisors have extensive experience in ion channel research, neuroscience drug discovery and medicinal chemistry, and have a successful track record in delivering new drug molecules to the clinic. Through this grant Metrion will exploit its drug discovery expertise to identify small molecule inhibitors of potassium channels which have been linked to neurodegeneration. Further modification of these lead molecules will allow the generation of orally active disease modifying agents for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, with a particular focus on progressive MS. There are currently no effective disease modifying agents available for the progressive form of the disease and MS remains a debilitating diseases for many thousands of patients."

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