Horizon Discovery Group Launches Collection of Highly Characterized Patient-Derived Xenograft Models of Breast Cancer

Horizon Discovery Group plc (Horizon), a leading provider of products, services and technologies in the field of genome engineering, today announced the launch of its Patient-Derived Xenograft (PDX) models of breast cancer under its SAGE Labs brand. The new panel is the largest available collection of highly characterized PDX models, and is licensed from Washington University.

The collection comprises a broad range of PDX lines, which allow the study of human tumors in an in vivo model system. PDX models are a key tool in the development of personalized medicines. The lines accurately model real patient tumors, enabling researchers to discover important genetic differences, develop biomarkers to distinguish them, and ultimately develop patient-specific therapies.

The new collection includes ten triple negative lines, as well as several ER+ (estrogen receptor positive) lines. Whole genome sequencing has been performed on the originating tumors, early and late passages of PDX, as well as metastases, demonstrating striking similarity and faithful modeling of the original tumor, with all contaminating mouse signal removed. Using SAGE Labs’ PDXplorer, customers can access a wealth of data on the PDX models, including comprehensive patient histories, estradiol responsiveness, RNAseq profiles, DNA microarrays, and phosphoprotein profiles, and can handpick the models that best support their research. For more information, visit http://www.sageresearchlabs.com/pdx.

Dr. David Smoller, Chief Business Officer, Horizon, commented: “Patient-derived xenografts are highly translational and relevant models of human cancers, and have been invaluable tools for oncology research. However, their utility has previously been somewhat limited by incomplete characterization. SAGE Labs’ new collection of PDX breast cancer models, sourced from the labs of Drs. Matt Ellis and Shunqiang Li at Washington University, is highly characterized, unlocking their full potential and making them an exciting addition to Horizon’s offering.”

About Horizon Discovery Group plc

Horizon is a revenue-generating life science company supplying research tools to organizations engaged in genomics research and the development of personalized medicines. Horizon has a diverse and international customer base approaching 1,000 organizations across nearly 50 countries, including major pharmaceutical, biotechnology and diagnostic companies as well as leading academic research centers. The Company supplies its products and services into multiple markets, estimated to total in excess of £29 billion by 2015.

Horizon’s core capabilities are built around its proprietary translational genomics platform, GENESIS™, a high-precision and flexible suite of gene-editing tools able to alter almost any endogenous gene sequence of human or mammalian cell-lines. Horizon offers almost 11,500 products, almost all of which are based on the application of GENESIS™ to generate cell lines that accurately model the disease-causing mutations found in genetically based diseases. These ‘patients-in-a-test-tube’ are being used by customers to identify the effect of individual or compound genetic mutations on drug activity, patient responsiveness, and resistance, which may lead to the successful prediction of which patient sub-groups will respond to currently available and future drug treatments.

In addition, Horizon provides GENASSIST™ CRISPR and rAAV gene-editing tools, custom cell line generation services for research and bioproduction applications, in vivo models, quantitative molecular reference standards, contract research and custom screening services, custom shRNA development services and off-the-shelf validated shRNA (through Horizon’s partner Sirion), and haploid cell lines (through Horizon’s partner Haplogen). These latter partnerships provide Horizon with almost 11,000 further products for our customers.

Horizon is headquartered in Cambridge, UK, and is listed on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market under the ticker “HZD”, for further information please visit: www.horizondiscovery.com.

Zyme Communications (Trade and Regional Media)
​Katie Odgaard

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Consilium Strategic Communications (Financial Media and Investor Relations)
​Amber Bielecka / Mary-Jane Elliott / Jessica Hodgson / Matthew Neal

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