Under the terms of the deal Horizon will support Blueprint’s “New Targets” discovery platform by deploying its X-MAN™ isogenic cell lines.
Horizon will use its proprietary platform and expertise to screen a selection of Blueprint’s unique and highly selective kinase inhibitor tool compounds on a panel of 26 X-MAN isogenic cell lines. Performing screens on X-MAN cell lines will provide valuable insights into elucidating synthetic lethal interactions with approximately 100 kinase targets in various cancer subtypes.
Horizon provides definitive and controlled preclinical model systems through the use of isogenic cell lines, where the genetic modification of interest can be directly compared to its matched normal cell. These cell lines have been generated through the GENESIS™ genome editing platform, which now includes ZFN and CRISPR, as well as the company’s proprietary rAAV technology.
The use of panels of these isogenic cell lines allows molecularly-defined cellular models to be systematically profiled, thereby providing a powerful tool for the investigation of sensitivity and resistance to cancer therapeutics. Horizon has recently launched this as a service broadly available to academic and commercial customers.
Blueprint Medicines has developed a proprietary platform that combines genomics expertise with a novel library of kinase inhibitors to enable the rapid development of potent, highly selective compounds to address clear genomic driver targets.
Dr. Christoph Lengauer, Chief Scientific Officer at Blueprint Medicines, commented: “Horizon’s track record in precise genome engineering of patient relevant cell line models and expertise in the field of oncology provide the ideal resource to support Blueprint’s drive to develop genetically tailored, highly selective cancer therapies.”
Dr. Chris Torrance, Chief Scientific Officer at Horizon, said: “We are delighted that Blueprint has selected Horizon as a partner for its cancer targets discovery effort, and look forward to contributing to the search for novel drug targets through use of our drug discovery services."
Financial terms were not disclosed.
About Horizon Discovery
Horizon Discovery Limited (Horizon) is a leading provider of research tools to support translational genomics research and the development of personalized medicines. Using GENESISTM, 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 applied GENESIS to create over 500 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 or compound 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 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 Blueprint Medicines
Blueprint Medicines is a patient-driven oncology company developing highly selective kinase inhibitors for genomically defined cancer subsets. Led by a management team and advisors with world-renowned expertise in cancer genomics, drug discovery and clinical oncology, Blueprint has developed a platform that combines genomics with a novel library of kinase inhibitors, enabling Blueprint to rapidly develop potent and highly selective compounds against clear genomic driver targets.
By focusing on highly selective drugs for genomically defined cancer patients, Blueprint has the potential with each of its personalized, precision medicine programs to demonstrate clear value creation early in the clinic, which could dramatically reduce the time and cost necessary to bring a new drug to market. The company expects to bring two to three programs to the clinic by the end of 2015.
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Contacts:
Media enquiries:
Katie Odgaard
Zyme Communications
Tel: +44 (0)7787 502 947
Email: katie.odgaard@zymecommunications.com
At Horizon:
Chris Claxton
Email: c.claxton@horizondiscovery.com
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