HTG Molecular Diagnostics, Inc. has released a second white paper (the “White Paper”), further establishing the utility of its transcriptome-informed approach to drug design and discovery utilizing its proprietary HTG EdgeSeq technology. A cornerstone of HTG's Therapeutics business, the HTG Transcriptome Panel (HTP) was launched with commercial availability in August of 2021. The HTP was designed to enable the assessment of approximately 20,000 mRNA targets using HTG's EdgeSeq technology, a targeted RNA sequencing technology that couples a nuclease protection assay with next-generation sequencing for rapid and accurate RNA quantification.

HTG EdgeSeq's many advantages include a 96-well plate format, low sample input requirement, no RNA extraction, and rapid assay and analysis time. Believe these benefits make it an attractive technology for applying transcriptomic profiling to drug discovery. The White Paper describes the use of HTG's transcriptome-informed drug design and discovery platform in early-stage design, selection and characterization of small-molecule candidates for an initial therapeutic target.

The results of the studies summarized in the White Paper revealed several indication-specific effects as well as potential undesirable effects of the initial therapeutic target through analysis of the transcriptomic profiles from compound-treated human cell line test systems. HTG intends to utilize the process outlined in the White Paper to further refine the design of its small-molecule chemical libraries. This is expected to enable the selection and characterization of candidate molecules across selected therapeutic targets of interest, potentially leading to business development and licensing opportunities in various therapeutic areas.