hERG Screening

Global hERG Screening Market to Reach US$4.9 Billion by 2030

The global market for hERG Screening estimated at US$2.4 Billion in the year 2024, is expected to reach US$4.9 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 12.7% over the analysis period 2024-2030. Gene KCNH2 Type, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is expected to record a 14.0% CAGR and reach US$3.7 Billion by the end of the analysis period. Growth in the Mutant KCNH2 Type segment is estimated at 9.5% CAGR over the analysis period.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at US$654.8 Million While China is Forecast to Grow at 17.3% CAGR

The hERG Screening market in the U.S. is estimated at US$654.8 Million in the year 2024. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$1.1 Billion by the year 2030 trailing a CAGR of 17.3% over the analysis period 2024-2030. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at a CAGR of 9.1% and 11.4% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 10.1% CAGR.

Global hERG Screening Market – Key Trends & Drivers Summarized

Why Is hERG Screening Critical in Modern Drug Development Pipelines?

hERG (human Ether-à-go-go-Related Gene) screening is a crucial safety assay in drug discovery, used to evaluate a compound’s potential to block the cardiac potassium ion channel encoded by the KCNH2 gene. Inhibition of this channel can lead to QT interval prolongation and increase the risk of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias such as Torsades de Pointes. As such, hERG screening has become a mandated component of preclinical safety pharmacology by global regulatory agencies including the FDA, EMA, and ICH.

Due to its implications for cardiac safety, hERG screening is essential not only for cardiovascular drugs but also for therapeutics across oncology, CNS, and infectious diseases. Drug candidates that show potential cardiotoxicity are typically modified, deprioritized, or withdrawn early in the pipeline, saving companies millions in downstream costs. This screening is also vital in lead optimization, enabling medicinal chemists to de-risk and refine compounds before entering animal or human studies.

How Are Technologies Advancing the Accuracy and Throughput of hERG Assays?

Recent advances in high-throughput screening (HTS), patch-clamp electrophysiology, and predictive computational modeling have significantly enhanced the precision and scalability of hERG testing. Automated planar patch-clamp platforms such as QPatch and SyncroPatch allow for high-content screening of ion channel activity with reduced labor and time investment. Similarly, fluorescence-based assays and voltage-sensitive dyes provide cost-effective alternatives for early-stage compound profiling.

In silico modeling and machine learning are now being applied to predict hERG liability based on chemical structure, reducing the need for exhaustive in vitro testing. The use of human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes as a physiologically relevant platform for hERG evaluation is also gaining traction, especially under the Comprehensive In Vitro Proarrhythmia Assay (CiPA) initiative. These technologies are improving predictability and regulatory alignment in preclinical cardiotoxicity assessment.

Which Sectors and Regions Are Leading hERG Screening Demand?

Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies represent the primary end-users of hERG screening, integrating these assays during early preclinical development and regulatory submission phases. CROs (Contract Research Organizations) are also major providers of hERG screening services, offering scalable, outsourced assay capabilities to drug developers. Academic institutions and toxicology research labs utilize hERG models for cardiac safety evaluation and channelopathy research.

Geographically, North America dominates the hERG screening market, driven by intensive drug development activity, stringent regulatory requirements, and advanced laboratory infrastructure. Europe follows, with a strong focus on regulatory science and public-private drug development collaborations. Asia-Pacific is emerging as a high-growth region, especially China and India, where pharmaceutical R&D spending is rising and global drugmakers are outsourcing early toxicology studies.

The Growth in the hERG Screening Market Is Driven by Several Factors…

The growth in the hERG screening market is driven by several factors related to safety pharmacology mandates, drug development complexity, and technology-driven screening innovation. Advances in automated patch-clamp systems, human-relevant cell models, and predictive AI-based screening tools have significantly enhanced throughput, accuracy, and regulatory compliance. These innovations are reducing time-to-decision for drug safety profiling while minimizing clinical failure risks.

On the end-use side, the expanding global pharmaceutical pipeline, especially in oncology and CNS drugs, is increasing the volume of compounds requiring hERG liability testing. The rise of personalized medicine and targeted therapies further necessitates precise cardiotoxicity screening. Regulatory frameworks like ICH S7B and the CiPA initiative continue to emphasize hERG as a primary biomarker of cardiac safety, ensuring that it remains integral to preclinical workflows. As safety standards and development timelines grow increasingly stringent, hERG screening is becoming indispensable in de-risking and accelerating new drug development.

SCOPE OF STUDY:

The report analyzes the hERG Screening market in terms of units by the following Segments, and Geographic Regions/Countries:

Segments:
Type (Gene KCNH2 Type, Mutant KCNH2 Type); Ion Channel (Voltage-Gated Ion Channel, Ligand-Gated Ion Channel); Application (Antiarrhythmic Application, Antipsychotic Application, Antibiotics Application, Other Applications)

Geographic Regions/Countries:
World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa.

Select Competitors (Total 33 Featured) -

• ApconiX Ltd.
• Aurigene Pharmaceutical Services
• Charles River Laboratories
• Creative Bioarray
• Cyprotex (Evotec)
• Eurofins Discovery
• Evotec SE
• Mediford
• Metrion Biosciences
• Molecular Devices
• Reaction Biology Corporation
• Thermo Fisher Scientific
• WuXi AppTec
• Eurofins Discovery
• Charles River Laboratories
• ApconiX Ltd.
• Creative Bioarray
• Cyprotex (Evotec)
• Mediford
• Metrion Biosciences

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