PDX models of tumors offer better in vivo insights for cancer research and drug development - Highly characterized models, originally exclusively licensed from The Wistar Insitute

Horizon Discovery Group plc (LSE: HZD) ("Horizon"), the world leader in the application of gene editing technologies, has announced it has added four BRAF-resistant melanoma PDX (patient derived xenograft) models to its range of commercially available in vivo models to support drug efficacy studies.

PDX models are created by implanting cancerous tissue from a human primary tumor directly into immunodeficient mouse or rat models, enabling acceleration of oncology research or drug discovery and development programs. PDX models may be used to support studies including preclinical drug screening, preclinical combination therapeutics screening, or identification and analysis of biomarkers. The BRAF-resistant melanoma models available from Horizon have been highly characterized, including comprehensive patient histories, sequencing analysis data, and protein expression data.

The complex mix of genetics between individuals and even within a single tumor in cancer is an enormous challenge for cancer research and drug development, which can be further complicated when the impact of the tumour microenvironment is considered.  This is where it can be helpful to examine a PDX model of tumors for better in vivo insights. The four models now available from Horizon have been proven to be highly valuable for work on BRAF therapy resistant primary and metastatic tumors.

Dr. Chris Eden, Product Manager, Horizon Discovery, commented: “It is becoming increasingly apparent that individual genetics can have a powerful impact on the efficacy and toxicology of therapeutics.  By understanding which genes and genotypes can impact a drug, not only can the right drug be directed to the right patient at the right dose, but more efficient clinical trials can be designed, offering the promise of less costly, faster, and lower risk trials for pharmaceutical partners.”

Horizon’s has partnered with The Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to make available their large collection of highly characterized Melanoma PDX models to the research community. These melanoma models are representative of all previously well-described melanoma subtypes identified by the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).

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