Under the terms of the agreement ATCC will provide Horizon’s products to its academic and not-for-profit customers as a part of or in conjunction with ATCC Tumor Cell Panels, for non-commercial research only. The agreement excludes distribution in Japan or distribution of X-MAN™ isogenic cell lines in isolation.
Horizon’s range of over 450 X-MAN cell lines is the world’s first source of genetically-defined and patient-relevant human cell lines, accurately modeling the disease-causing mutations found in cancer patients. The cell lines were created using the Company’s proprietary and highly precise rAAV gene-editing technology, GENESIS™, with which scientists are able to alter any endogenous gene sequence of a human or mammalian cell line quickly, reliably and without introducing unwanted and confounding genotypes and/or phenotypes.
Dr Raymond Cypess, CEO, ATCC, commented: “Horizon’s X-MAN cell line panels are a great complement for ATCC Tumor Cell Panels and will be a valuable resource for our customers. The ability to work with accurate disease model cell lines is of great benefit, particularly in oncology research where many mutations studied are rare, and reliable sources of patient-derived cell lines are scarce.”
“We are delighted that ATCC has chosen to work with us to expand the network of academic and not-for-profit institutions that has access to X-MAN cell lines,” said Dr Darrin Disley, CEO, Horizon. “X-MAN cells are already being widely used by academia and industry to identify the effect of individual or compound genetic mutations on drug activity, patient responsiveness, and resistance. We look forward to seeing the progress in oncology research that increased adoption will bring about.”
About Horizon Discovery http://www.horizondiscovery.com/
Horizon Discovery Limited (Horizon) is a leading provider of research tools to support translational genomics research and the development of personalized medicines. The Company’s proprietary technology, GENESIS, is the world’s most precise genome editing technology. Using GENESIS, Horizon is able to alter any endogenous gene sequence of a human or mammalian cell-line quickly, reliably and without introducing unwanted and confounding genotypes and/or phenotypes.
Horizon has harnessed GENESIS to create over 450 X-MAN cell lines, the world’s first source of genetically-defined and patient-relevant human cell lines, accurately modeling the disease-causing mutations found in cancer patients. These ‘patients-in-a-test-tube’ are being used by academic and industry leaders to identify the effect of individual genetic mutations on drug activity, patient responsiveness, and resistance, leading to the successful prediction of which patient sub-groups will respond to currently-available and future drug treatments. This enables the design of shorter, more focused, and less expensive clinical trials, ultimately providing the tools to identify the ‘right drugs’ for the ‘right patients’ based upon the unique genetic mutations that define their disease.
In addition to the X-MAN cell lines, Horizon provides GENESIS and X-MAN derived products and services, with industrial application in: bio-pharmaceutical process optimization; clinical diagnostic development; drug discovery & development; and the provision of reference standards for genomic-based clinical research platforms.
GENESIS and X-MAN are registered trademarks of Horizon Discovery Limited.
About ATCC http://www.atcc.org/
Since 1925, ATCC has operated as an independent, non-profit entity that has helped life science organizations and academic institutions produce innovations that have benefited humankind: creating life saving vaccines, nutritional improvements, cancer research breakthroughs, and safer, more effective medications. With distribution to more than 140 countries and a working relationship with 12 distribution partners, ATCC has the experience, knowledge, rigor, tradition and the global reach to serve academic institutions, government agencies, biotech, biopharma, and research organizations around the world.
*******
Contacts:
At Horizon:
Darrin Disley
CEO
Tel: +44 (0)1223 655 580
Email: d.disley@horizondiscovery.com
At ATCC:
Jaleel Shujath
Director, Marketing Content and Communications
Tel: +1 (703) 365-2875
Email: jshujath@atcc.org
Media enquiries:
Katie Odgaard
Zyme Communications
Tel: +44 (0)7787 502 947
Email: katie.odgaard@zymecommunications.com
Twitter: zymecomms
________________________________________________________________
Horizon and ATCC sign global licensing and distribution agreement
14 August 2012
Cambridge, UK, and Manassas, Virginia- Horizon Discovery Ltd, a leading provider of research tools to support the development of personalized medicines, announced it has signed a licensing and distribution agreement with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) for a select set of panels of X-MAN™ isogenic cell lines.