Horizon Discovery & Pharmahungary Report Positive Early Stage Results for Novel Micro-RNA Therapeutic

Horizon Discovery Group plc and Pharmahungary Group recently announced positive early stage results for a novel micro-RNA therapeutic for ischemic heart diseases. RNA oligonucleotides, custom-manufactured by Horizon at its Boulder, CO, site (formerly Dharmacon, Inc.), were used in successful studies that have paved the way for in vivo proof-of-concept efficacy studies in further animal models of acute myocardial infarction and post-infarction heart failure.

The micro-RNA (an miRNA-125b*-mimic compound) was identified as suitable for further development based on favorable pharmacokinetic results as well as pharmacodynamic data at the molecular level. This study also represents a significant development in understanding, as very little is currently known about the pharmacokinetic properties of miRNA compounds.

The potential therapeutic has been developed under Pharmahungary’s ProtectomiR program, under which several miRNA compounds for cytoprotection in ischemic diseases, termed ProtectomiRs, have been identified. The aim is to develop a curative treatment for ischemic heart disease, the number one cause of mortality worldwide. This is a major unmet medical need, as currently only symptomatic treatment is available.

 Horizon’s Dharmacon custom RNA synthesis service is able to support the broadest variety of projects, including generating long RNA oligos, custom RNA inhibitors for the study of microRNA biology, custom phosphoramidites, specialized chemical modifications or modified bases, and larger scale orders for in vivo and preclinical development.

 Terry Pizzie, CEO, Horizon Discovery, said “The expertise in custom synthesis of oligonucleotides at our Boulder facility has been well known for many years. We are extremely excited to be part of this innovative approach to developing new therapeutics.”

 Péter Ferdinandy, MD, PhD, MBA, CEO & Founder of Pharmahungary Group, added “The pharmacokinetic study was an important step towards the development of this and ProtectomiRs. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Horizon Discovery, to work toward our goal of developing novel drugs for treatment of ischemic heart diseases.”

Horizon Discovery Group plc (LSE: HZD) (Horizon) drives the application of gene editing and gene modulation within the global life science market – supporting scientists on the path from research to therapy. Built upon more than a decade of experience in the engineering of cell lines, Horizon offers an unmatched portfolio of tools and services to help scientists gain a greater understanding of gene function, identify genetic drivers behind human disease, deliver biotherapeutics, cellular and gene therapies for precision medicine as well as develop and validate diagnostic workflows. Horizon’s solutions enable almost any gene to be altered, or its function modulated, in human and other mammalian cell lines. The company’s customers include many of the world’s foremost academic institutes, global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies as well as clinical diagnostic laboratories. Insight into the challenges faced by these organizations enables the company to focus efforts on development of innovative solutions that not only differentiate the company’s offering, but also fuel development of the next wave of precision medicines. Horizon is headquartered in Cambridge, UK with offices in USA and Japan. The Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market under the ticker HZD. Dharmacon is a trademark of Horizon Discovery Group. Follow Horizon Discovery on Twitter @HZDiscovery and LinkedIn @Horizon Discovery.

Pharmahungary Group is a group of innovative R&D companies developing novel in-house R&D projects for valorization as well as providing innovative preclinical and clinical R&D services from cells to large animals focusing on but not limited to cardiovascular, metabolic, renal, and inflammation diseases.  The current project has been partially funded by the National Heart program (National Research, Development and Innovation Office of Hungary – NVKP-16-1-2016-0017). For more information, visit pharmahungary.com.