Horizon Discovery Group plc (LSE:HZD) (Horizon), a leading provider of research tools to support translational genomics and the development of personalized medicines, today announced it has entered a worldwide co-exclusive distribution agreement with Haplogen Genomics GmbH (Haplogen). 

The agreement provides Horizon with access to a new high-throughput, affordable cell line engineering service. Haplogen’s extensive experience with haploid cell lines, along with a highly optimized production pipeline, allows knockouts for any non-essential gene to be generated at a throughput of hundreds of new isogenic cell lines per month. This highly efficient operation for the first time puts custom and validated human isogenic cell line pairs in the reach of all basic and translational scientists engaged in genomics and drug discovery research and development. 

Horizon will also market Haplogen’s rapidly growing collection of over 700 human knockout cell lines, the largest collection of human cell lines deficient for the expression of single genes available, and more than 9,000 thousand gene trap mutants to the over 70,000 active academic research labs worldwide.  Biotech and Pharma customers can access off the shelf or custom cell-lines through Horizon by signing a limited use label license for a one year term, while academic customers can access an unlimited term license at >80% discount. Combined these products and services potentially represent a significant revenue stream for Horizon, subject to market takeup.

Haplogen’s human cell lines carry only a single copy of each of its chromosomes and have been comprehensively characterized at the genomic, transcriptional and functional level, making them ideal for the of study a great variety of biological processes, such as signal transduction, cellular trafficking, DNA repair, cell cycle or host-pathogen interactions. 

Dr Darrin M Disley, CEO of Horizon Discovery Group plc, commented: “This agreement represents a major opportunity for Horizon as we can now address the needs of the majority of academic research labs who have not historically been able to access our custom gene-editing services, but who now will be able to at a price that mirrors that of a typical pre-engineered catalogue item.”

Dr. Disley continued, “Haplogen’s products and services are highly complementary to our in-house portfolio, including our X-MAN™ range of diploid isogenic cell lines. This exclusive relationship supports Horizon’s goal of providing high quality product, service and R&D programs to customers engaged both in basic research and at every stage of translational genomics and personalized medicine, from sequence to treatment.”

Dr Thomas Moser, CEO of Haplogen Genomics, said: “We have been pleased with the success of the initial non-exclusive agreement and are very happy to now extend the range of Haplogen products and services offered through Horizon on a co-exclusive basis. Horizon’s global reputation within the industry and its commercial reach are increasing, and this amended marketing and distribution agreement will increase the impact of our products on translational genomics research.”

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