Horizon Discovery Group plc (LSE:HZD) (Horizon), the international life science company supplying research tools and services to organizations engaged in genomics research and the development of personalized medicines, today announced that it has been selected to act as a core facility by the Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute (TDI).

As a core facility, Horizon will provide single and combination drug profiling followed by confirmatory secondary assay services to TDI through its discovery research services unit.

Under the agreement, Horizon will receive up to $500,000 for work to be performed during 2015 and 2016, with the option for additional collaboration work orders thereafter.

Horizon will utilize its unique cHTS (combination High Throughput Screening) platform and Chalice™ analytics software to screen and analyze potentially thousands of small-molecule drugs, therapeutic antibodies or proteins in combination to identify synergistic or antagonistic interactions.  Horizon will also provide a range of optimized cellular assays as follow-ups to identify drug target activity. The first programs are forecast to start in the second half of 2015.

Dr. Darrin M. Disley, Chief Executive Officer of Horizon Discovery Group plc, commented: “Horizon is thrilled to have been chosen as a core facility to support TDI research programs via application of our innovative drug combination screening platform and assay services. The partnership, which provides access to multiple components of our technology platforms and capabilities, reinforces the value that we can provide our customers from ‘sequence to treatment’. We look forward to working with the TDI team and potentially broadening our relationship further in 2016 and 2017.”

Dr. Michael Foley, Sanders Director, TDI, said: “The Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute links researchers in basic and clinical science with experts in drug discovery from the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, with the goal of more efficiently translating discoveries into therapies for disease. We are delighted to be partnering with Horizon Discovery Group and look forward to initiating the programs.”

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