HERG Screening Market Size, Share, and Industry Analysis By Type (Products [Instruments & Kits, Reagents & Consumables], and Services), By Technique (Manual/Automated Patch Clamp, Fluorescence Polarization, and Others), By Application (Drug Discovery, Preclinical Testing and Others), By End User (Pharmaceutical & Biotechnological Companies, Contract Research Organizations, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2025-2032

The global hERG screening market is witnessing significant growth due to the increasing number of clinical trials to launch advanced drugs. hERG (human ether-a-go-go related gene) screening is a laboratory technique that focuses on the activity of the hERG channel protein. The practice is performed to assess the pharmacology endpoints of the drug prior to its marketing approval. 

• According to 2024 data published by clinicaltrials.gov, it was reported that there are approximately 505,210 research studies worldwide.

HERG Screening Market Driver

Increasing Prevalence of Acute and Chronic Disorders Support the Rising Number of Research & Development Activities 

There is an increasing prevalence of acute and chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disorders, orthopedic disorders, among others, resulting in the rising number of research and development activities among key players.

• According to the 2024 statistics published by the American Heart Association, it was reported that nearly half of all people (48.6%) have some cardiovascular disease in the U.S.

According to clinicaltrials.gov, the number of clinical trials increased from 2,119 in 2000 to 505,210 in 2024 globally.

HERG Screening Market Restraint

High Costs Associated with hERG Screening Products May Hinder Market Growth

There is a huge demand for advanced hERG screening products among key players. However, the high cost associated with products, such as vials, instruments, among others, is likely to hamper the adoption rate of these products in the market.

• According to 2024 statistics published by Eurofins DiscoverX Products, it was reported that the cost of hERG screening vials lies in the range of USD 900.0 – USD 1,000.0.

HERG Screening Market Opportunity

Advent of Technological Advancements to Propel Industry Expansion

The advent of technological advancements in hERG screening techniques is presenting a potential opportunity in the market. Rising awareness about advanced techniques such as automated patch clamps has revolutionized ion channel screening, enabling accurate and efficient throughput within research studies. The growing demand is driving the focus of key players toward the launch of advanced products in the market.

• In July 2023, Sophion Bioscience launched QPatch Compact, a semi-automated patch clamp solution that offers full temperature control, light pipetting guidance, adaptive current clamp, and a range of new functionalities to increase the experiment performance.

Segmentation

By Type	By Technique	By Application	By End User	By Geography
Products Instruments & Kits Reagents & Consumables Services	Manual/ Automated Patch Clamp Fluorescence Polarization Others	Drug Discovery Preclinical Testing Others	Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies Contract Research Organizations Others	North America (U.S. and Canada) Europe (U.K., Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Scandinavia, and the Rest of Europe) Asia Pacific (Japan, China, India, Australia, Southeast Asia, and the Rest of Asia Pacific) Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, and the Rest of Latin America) Middle East & Africa (South Africa, GCC, and Rest of the Middle East & Africa)

Key Insights

The report covers the following key insights:

• Prevalence of Key Disorders, By Key Countries, 2023


• Technological Advancements in the hERG Screening Products


• New Product Launches, By Key Players


• Key Industry Developments (Mergers, Acquisitions, Partnerships)


• Impact of COVID-19 on the Market 

Analysis by Type

By type, the market is categorized into products and services.

The services segment held a prominent market share in 2023. The rising demand for hERG screening among pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies, among others, results in the growing number of key players offering hERG screening services.

• In August 2023, Metrion Biosciences Limited, the specialist ion channel contract research and drug discovery company, received an allowance from the U.K.’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), with an aim to offer GLP-compliant hERG ion channel screening services to the global life sciences community.

Analysis by Technique 

Based on technique, the market is segmented into manual/automated patch clamp, fluorescence polarization, and others.

The manual/ automated patch clamp segment held a significant market share. The growth is due to the rising focus of key players toward clinical studies to improvise the technique resulting in the rising adoption rate for this technique among contract research organizations and others.

• In January 2024, Nanion Technologies GmbH conducted a clinical study with cesium, which could potentially offer a reliable method for evaluating the effects of certain drugs on the hERG channel, especially in cells with small IKr currents, such as hiPSC-CMs or native cardiac cells.

Analysis by Application 

Based on application, the market is categorized into drug discovery, preclinical testing and others.

The drug discovery segment held a substantial market share in 2023. The segment growth is due to a rising number of key players focusing on acquisitions and collaborations, driving the rising number of studies to identify the potential candidate resulting in the growing demand for hERG screening services.

• In September 2023, Merck KGaA collaborated with BenevolentAI and Exscientia with an aim to generate several novel clinical drug development candidates, resulting in the rising demand for hERG screening services.

Analysis by End User

Based on end user, the market is categorized into pharmaceutical & biotechnological companies, contract research organizations, and others.

The pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies segment held the largest market share in 2023. The growth is due to the soaring focus of pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies toward strategic initiatives such as clinical studies, recognition awards, among others, resulting in the rising awareness of advanced hERG screening products in the market.

• In December 2023, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. presented positive results for the Phase III INAVO 120 study evaluating inavolisib in combination with palbociclib (Ibrance) and fulvestrant as a first-line treatment for people with locally advanced or metastatic cancer. The growing number of clinical studies is further increasing the adoption rate for hERG screening products and services.

Regional Analysis

Based on region, the market has been studied across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.

North America accounted for the largest share of the global hERG screening market in 2023. The regional growth is attributed to distinct factors, including the growing prevalence of acute and chronic conditions, developed healthcare infrastructure, and the growing number of research and development activities, among others.

• According to 2023 statistics published by the American Cancer Society, it was estimated that over 1.9 million new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in the U.S.

Europe is the second-largest market based on the demand for hERG Screening. The rising focus of clinical studies on potential candidates is contributing to the rising service demand, contributing to the regional growth. 

• In February 2024, Bayer AG announced the beginning of dosing in Phase I trial of cancer drug VVD-130850 as a monotherapy and along with immune checkpoint inhibitors with an aim to cater the growing demand among patients. The growing number of clinical trials is further supporting the rising demand for hERG screening services.

Moreover, rising geriatric population in the Asia Pacific countries such as China, Japan, among others is likely to contribute to the rising prevalence, further supporting the growing number of research and development activities among key players. The rising R&D activities are further augmenting the demand for novel hERG screening products in the region.

Key Players Covered

The global hERG screening market is fragmented with the presence of a large number of prominent players in the market.

The report includes the profiles of the following key players:

• Creative Biolabs (U.S.)


• Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (U.S.)


• Creative Bioarray (U.S.)


• Charles River Laboratories (U.S.)


• Metrion Biosciences (U.K.)


• Reaction Biology (U.S.)


• Evotec (Germany)


• Sophion Bioscience (Denmark)


• Nanion Technologies GmbH (Germany)

Key Industry Developments

• In June 2024, Nanion Technologies GmbH announced a clinical study with several analogs, such as VU0948578, among others, to evaluate a novel candidate for patients who have epilepsy. This helped in strengthening the brand presence of the company.


• In March 2022, Nanion Technologies GmbH installed its SyncroPatch 384 at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at their Silver Spring Site in Maryland. This helped the company to increase its global brand presence.