Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes for drug development and toxicity testing

Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology is creating exciting new opportunities for cardiovascular research by providing platforms to study the mechanisms of disease pathogenesis that could lead to new therapies or reveal drug sensitivities. In this review, the potential usefulness of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes in drug development as well as in drug toxicity testing is discussed, with a focus on the achievements that have been already made in this regard. Moreover, the crucial steps that have to be taken before this technology can be broadly used in drug discovery and toxicology assessments are highlighted.