Cell-Based Assay Development Services

Multispan specializes in the custom development of cell-based assays tailored to your biological target, from GPCRs and kinases to ion channels and nuclear hormone receptors. Nearly two decades of experience delivering assays optimized for in vivo relevance, reproducibility, and consistent performance.

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Cell Based Assays Tailored for Target-Specific Drug Discovery

Multispan specializes in the custom development of cell-based assays tailored to your biological target, from GPCRs and kinases to ion channels and nuclear hormone receptors. Nearly two decades of experience delivering assays optimized for in vivo relevance, reproducibility, and consistent performance.
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Where We Specialize

  • Two decades of GPCR-focused expertise. Specialized experience across GPCRs, kinases, ion channels, transporters, and nuclear hormone receptors.
  • Proprietary MULTISCREEN™ β-Arrestin Sensor technology. Enables functional assays for orphan GPCRs and detects signaling bias using untagged receptors.
  • HTS-ready benchmarks. Assays validated in 384-well format with Z’-factor typically exceeding 0.7 (well above the 0.5 HTS minimum).
  • Cross-species pharmacological comparability. Ortholog assays available for mouse, rat, ferret, rabbit, dog, pig, and non-human primates.
  • Integrated platform. Assay development pairs with MULTISCREEN™ stable cell lines, division-arrested cells, and in-house screening for a complete pipeline.
  • Diverse cell model experience. Including hepatocytes, hiPSC-derived microglial cells, human ventricular interstitial cardiomyocytes, primary fibroblasts, PBMCs, and mouse islet cells.

Where We Specialize

  • Two decades of GPCR-focused expertise. Specialized experience across GPCRs, kinases, ion channels, transporters, and nuclear hormone receptors.
  • Proprietary MULTISCREEN™ β-Arrestin Sensor technology. Enables functional assays for orphan GPCRs and detects signaling bias using untagged receptors.
  • HTS-ready benchmarks. Assays validated in 384-well format with Z’-factor typically exceeding 0.7 (well above the 0.5 HTS minimum).
  • Cross-species pharmacological comparability. Ortholog assays available for mouse, rat, ferret, rabbit, dog, pig, and non-human primates.
  • Integrated platform. Assay development pairs with MULTISCREEN™ stable cell lines, division-arrested cells, and in-house screening for a complete pipeline.
  • Diverse cell model experience. Including hepatocytes, hiPSC-derived microglial cells, human ventricular interstitial cardiomyocytes, primary fibroblasts, PBMCs, and mouse islet cells.

What We Develop

Target families

Assay formats

  • ELISA and cell-based ELISA
  • Reporter assays
  • Binding assays
  • Second messenger assays
  • Flow cytometry (FACS)
  • TR-FRET and fluorescence assays
  • Absorbance and luminescence assays
  • Radioisotope-based assays

GPCR-specific assays

Modes of action

Target families

Assay formats

  • ELISA and cell-based ELISA
  • Reporter assays
  • Binding assays
  • Second messenger assays
  • Flow cytometry (FACS)
  • TR-FRET and fluorescence assays
  • Absorbance and luminescence assays
  • Radioisotope-based assays

GPCR-specific assays

Modes of action

Step 1

Unlock Target Biology: Choosing the Right Cell Line

Our MULTISCREENTM assay development process begins with identifying the cell line that best reflects the target’s biology and intended mechanism of action. We routinely develop assays using two core approaches:
  • Primary cells, which express the endogenous form of the target in a native cellular context
  • Recombinant stable cell lines, engineered to express heterologous targets or suppress endogenous targets
We’ve also developed HTS-compatible assays using diverse cell models, including hepatocytes, hiPSC-derived microglial cells, human ventricular interstitial cardiomyocytes (hVIC), primary fibroblasts, PBMCs, and mouse islet cells. When recombinant systems are preferred, we utilize Multispan’s own panel of highly characterized MULTISCREENTM stable cell lines, which are carefully designed, validated, and QC’d for high throughput screening assays.

Our MULTISCREENTM assay development process begins with identifying the cell line that best reflects the target’s biology and intended mechanism of action.

We routinely develop assays using two core approaches:

  • Primary cells, which express the endogenous form of the target in a native cellular context
  • Recombinant stable cell lines, engineered to express heterologous targets or suppress endogenous targets

We’ve also developed HTS-compatible assays using diverse cell models, including hepatocytes, hiPSC-derived microglial cells, human ventricular interstitial cardiomyocytes (hVIC), primary fibroblasts, PBMCs, and mouse islet cells.

When recombinant systems are preferred, we utilize Multispan’s own panel of highly characterized MULTISCREENTM stable cell lines, which are carefully designed, validated, and QC’d for high throughput screening assays.

MULTISCREENTM Stable Cell Lines
Step 2

Choose the Right Assay Readout: Measuring What Matters

Once the cell model is selected, the next critical step in cell-based assay development is identifying the most appropriate readout method. The choice of readout determines how accurately and reliably a compound’s activity or mechanism of action is measured.

Multispan has extensive experience with a wide range of assay formats, allowing us to tailor the readout to your specific research goals. Common techniques include:

  • ELISA and Cell-Based ELISA 
  • Reporter Assays 
  • Binding Assays
  • Second Messenger Assays 
  • Flow Cytometry (FACS) 
  • TR-FRET and Fluorescence Assays 
  • Absorbance or Luminescence Assays 
  • Radioisotope-Based Assays
Once the cell model is selected, the next critical step in cell-based assay development is identifying the most appropriate readout method. The choice of readout determines how accurately and reliably a compound’s activity or mechanism of action is measured.
Multispan has extensive experience with a wide range of assay formats, allowing us to tailor the readout to your specific research goals. Common techniques include:
  • ELISA and Cell-Based ELISA 
  • Reporter Assays 
  • Binding Assays
  • Second Messenger Assays 
  • Flow Cytometry (FACS) 
  • TR-FRET and Fluorescence Assays 
  • Absorbance or Luminescence Assays 
  • Radioisotope-Based Assays
MULTISCREENTM Assay Kits
Step 3

Choose the Biology to Measure: Aligning Assay Design with Target Function

With the right cell model and readout selected, the next step in cell-based assay development is defining the specific biological event to measure. This decision depends on the target class, mechanism of action, and how the compound is expected to influence cellular behavior.

At Multispan, we’ve successfully applied diverse technologies to develop assays across multiple target families, including:

  • Serine/threonine kinases
  • Receptor tyrosine kinases
  • Nuclear hormone receptors
  • Ion channels
  • Transporters
  • And especially G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs)
For GPCR targets in particular, we offer a wide range of validated assay formats, including:
  • Calcium flux assays
  • cAMP accumulation
  • β-arrestin recruitment
  • pERK, pNFκB, IP-1, and pGRK2 phosphorylation assays
  • Radioligand binding and GTPγS assays
  • Chemotaxis and cytokine secretion
  • Luciferase reporter gene activation
  • Insulin secretion, cell proliferation, and receptor internalization assays
Our proprietary MULTISCREENTM β-Arrestin Sensor enables functional assays for orphan GPCRs (oGPCRs) in their native form and allows detection of signaling bias using untagged GPCRs in heterologous or primary cells—making true high-throughput oGPCR functional profiling possible for the first time. We also support cross-species assay development, with pharmacological comparability across orthologs from mouse, rat, ferret, rabbit, dog, pig, and non-human primates. In addition to live-cell assays, we incorporate radioligand binding assays and GTPγS assays are often performed using primary tissue homogenates such as human or rat, mouse, and rabbit brain tissues from wild-type or transgenic animals.
With the right cell model and readout selected, the next step in cell-based assay development is defining the specific biological event to measure. This decision depends on the target class, mechanism of action, and how the compound is expected to influence cellular behavior.
At Multispan, we’ve successfully applied diverse technologies to develop assays across multiple target families, including:
  • Serine/threonine kinases
  • Receptor tyrosine kinases
  • Nuclear hormone receptors
  • Ion channels
  • Transporters
  • And especially G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs)
For GPCR targets in particular, we offer a wide range of validated assay formats, including:
  • Calcium flux assays
  • cAMP accumulation
  • β-arrestin recruitment
  • pERK, pNFκB, IP-1, and pGRK2 phosphorylation assays
  • Radioligand binding and GTPγS assays
  • Chemotaxis and cytokine secretion
  • Luciferase reporter gene activation
  • Insulin secretion, cell proliferation, and receptor internalization assays
Our proprietary MULTISCREENTM β-Arrestin Sensor enables functional assays for orphan GPCRs (oGPCRs) in their native form and allows detection of signaling bias using untagged GPCRs in heterologous or primary cells—making true high-throughput oGPCR functional profiling possible for the first time. We also support cross-species assay development, with pharmacological comparability across orthologs from mouse, rat, ferret, rabbit, dog, pig, and non-human primates. In addition to live-cell assays, we incorporate radioligand binding assays and GTPγS assays are often performed using primary tissue homogenates such as human or rat, mouse, and rabbit brain tissues from wild-type or transgenic animals.
Step 4

Choose the Mode of Action: Tailoring Assays for High-Throughput Success

At Multispan, our approach to developing cellular assays is intricately tied to the biology of each target and the specific mechanism of therapeutic intervention. A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work in modern drug discovery—each assay must be strategically aligned with how the compound is expected to behave. We incorporate the different modalities in our MULTISCREENTM development process as High-Throughput Screening (HTS) is intended, ensuring that assays are meticulously tailored to meet the screening requirements. Through our MULTISCREENTM development process, we incorporate assay modalities that support diverse mechanisms, including:
  • Agonists
  • Partial agonists
  • Antagonists
  • Inverse agonists
  • Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs)
  • Negative allosteric modulators (NAMs)
By aligning assay design with the compound’s mode of action, we give your program the precision needed to screen, compare, and advance compounds with confidence—especially when signaling bias or functional selectivity is involved.
At Multispan, our approach to developing cellular assays is intricately tied to the biology of each target and the specific mechanism of therapeutic intervention. A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work in modern drug discovery—each assay must be strategically aligned with how the compound is expected to behave.
We incorporate the different modalities in our MULTISCREENTM development process as High-Throughput Screening (HTS) is intended, ensuring that assays are meticulously tailored to meet the screening requirements. Through our MULTISCREENTM development process, we incorporate assay modalities that support diverse mechanisms, including:
  • Agonists
  • Partial agonists
  • Antagonists
  • Inverse agonists
  • Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs)
  • Negative allosteric modulators (NAMs)
By aligning assay design with the compound’s mode of action, we give your program the precision needed to screen, compare, and advance compounds with confidence—especially when signaling bias or functional selectivity is involved.

Our Development Approach

Every assay development project begins with four scientific decisions that shape the final design: the cell line that best reflects the target’s biology, the readout method that most accurately measures compound activity, the biological event being measured, and the mode of action the assay is designed to detect.

We work with two core cell approaches: primary cells that express the endogenous target in a native cellular context, and recombinant stable cell lines engineered to express heterologous targets or suppress endogenous ones. When recombinant systems are preferred, we draw from Multispan’s panel of highly characterized MULTISCREEN™ stable cell lines, validated and QC’d for HTS.

For GPCR programs specifically, our proprietary MULTISCREEN™ β-Arrestin Sensor enables functional assays for orphan GPCRs (oGPCRs) in their native form and allows detection of signaling bias using untagged GPCRs in heterologous or primary cells — making true high-throughput oGPCR functional profiling possible.

FAQs

Assay development is the process of creating reliable and optimized tests for measuring biological activity, known as assays, bioassays or potency assays. Screening utilizes these assays for compound testing to identify lead candidates that exhibit therapeutic or beneficial traits. Both of these processes serve as vital parts of drug discovery research.

Assay development starts with determining the targeted biology to measure, type of assay, detection method, and experimental procedures. Further optimization of the assay is then performed before the final validation of the assay for reliability and functionality. Once validated, the assay is ready to be deployed for use in clinical or research settings.

The time needed to develop a successful assay varies depending on the complexity and goals of the desired assay. Extensive testing and optimization are required in this development process. It may require anywhere from a few months or years to achieve the desired results.

There are three main categories of assays in drug discovery research: biochemical assays, cell-based assays, and immunoassays. Biochemical assays are primarily used in target validation for drug discovery. Cell-based assays are vital in determining cellular activity in response to substances. Immunoassays are used in disease detection and medical diagnostics.

The most common cell-based assays can be categorized into signaling, viability, proliferation, cell death, and cytotoxicity assays. Signaling assays are designed to detect cell response to external stimuli, while viability assays assess the durability and health of cells under various conditions. Proliferation assays measure the growth rate of cells, cell death assays measure the mechanism and rate of cell death, and cytotoxicity assays measure the effect of substances on cells.  

Resources:

Assay Designs and Compound Screening Services

Article: Assay Orphan GPCRs in High Throughput with MULTISCREENTM β-Arrestin Sensor Technology

Article: 32-GPCR Safety Functional Assay Panel for Routine Off-Target Compound Profiling

Article: Hit-to-Lead and Lead Optimization In Vitro Pharmacology Support

Article: High Throughput Screening Done Right

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