Horizon Discovery Group plc (LSE: HZD) (“Horizon” or “the Company”), a global leader in gene editing and gene modulation technologies, today announced it is collaborating with St George’s University Hospital, London, and the European Molecular Genetics Quality Network (EMQN), based within the Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine at Saint Mary’s Hospital, to develop reference material for non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT).
Cambridge, UK, 25 March 2019: Horizon Discovery Group plc (LSE: HZD) (“Horizon” or “the Company”), a global leader in gene editing and gene modulation technologies, today announced it is collaborating with St George’s University Hospital, London, and the European Molecular Genetics Quality Network (EMQN), based within the Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine at Saint Mary’s Hospital, to develop reference material for non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT).
Well-characterized reference material that consists of matched (related) maternal and fetal DNA with a variety of chromosomal aneuploidies is required to monitor NIPT test performance, but is not currently available. Horizon will apply its expertise to develop genetically defined, cell-line derived reference material to support quality assurance programs. Clinical samples for the project will be provided by St George’s University Hospital and St Thomas’ Hospital, London. The EMQN will run a comprehensive validation study using its global network of laboratories performing NIPT.
Lisa Wright, Business Unit Leader, Diagnostics, Horizon Discovery, said: “Horizon has pioneered the development of well characterized, genetically defined reference standard material to support molecular diagnostics. We are delighted to be involved in this project.”
Professor Asma Khalil, St George’s University Hospital, said: “There is increasingly widespread adoption of NIPT, both in the UK and internationally. Incorrect results can have detrimental effects on patient management, hence we as clinicians want to be confident that test results are accurate.”
Simon Patton, Director, EMQN, said: “External Quality Assessment (EQA) services are essential for any laboratory seeking to maintain and provide a quality service. Horizon’s genetically defined reference standards will be a great asset to aid with proficiency testing.”
The project is supported by funding from Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency.
ENDS
About Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing
NIPT is an attractive alternative to invasive diagnostic procedures, allowing women at an elevated risk of having children with genetic disorders to determine the status of their fetus through a non-invasive test. This is possible because during gestation blood exchange between mother and child can occur, and so the genetic status of the fetus has the potential to be detected directly from the mother. Although NIPT is increasingly common, incidence of real positives can be low, and the risk of a false positive or negative result is significant and can have a major clinical impact1. There is therefore an urgent need to develop approaches to control for these errors.
References
- Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) Market Size, Share, Development, Growth and Demand Forecast to 2020, P&S Market Research, 2015
About Horizon’s reference standards
There are many potential sources of variability that can lead to molecular diagnostic tests providing erroneous results. Horizon’s reference standards offer a source of genetically defined, quantitative, sustainable and independent third-party reference material, critical to the validation and routine performance monitoring of assays, providing an unprecedented level of control. Horizon reference standards are available in a broad range of formats, including formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) cell line sections, formalin-compromised DNA, purified genomic DNA (gDNA), and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) on its own or spiked into synthetic plasma.
For further information from Horizon Discovery Group plc, please contact:
Zyme Communications (Trade and Regional Media)
Katie Odgaard
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About Horizon Discovery Group plc www.horizondiscovery.com
Horizon Discovery Group plc (LSE: HZD) (“Horizon”) is a world leader in gene editing and gene modulation technologies. Horizon designs and engineers cells using its translational genomics platform, a highly precise and flexible suite of DNA editing tools (rAAV, ZFN, CRISPR and Transposon) and, following the acquisition of Dharmacon, Inc., its functional genomics platform comprising gene knockdown (RNAi) and gene expression (cDNA, ORF) tools, for research and clinical applications that advance human health. Horizon’s platforms and capabilities enable researchers to alter almost any gene or modulate its function in human or mammalian cell lines.
Horizon offers an extensive range of catalogue products and related research services to support a greater understanding of the function of genes across all species and the genetic drivers of human disease and the development of personalized molecular, cell and gene therapies. These have been adopted by over 10,000 academic, drug discovery, drug manufacturing and clinical diagnostics customers around the globe, as well as in the Company’s own R&D pipeline.
Horizon is headquartered in Cambridge, UK, and is listed on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market under the ticker “HZD.”
About The European Molecular Genetics Quality Network https://www.emqn.org/
The European Molecular Genetics Quality Network (EMQN) is a not-for-profit organization promoting quality in genetic testing by establishing, harmonizing and disseminating best practice.
The EMQN is based within the Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, Saint Mary’s Hospital, Manchester, UK, and hosted by Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT).
About Innovate UK
Innovate UK drives productivity end economic growth by supporting businesses to develop and realize the potential of new ideas. Innovate UK connects businesses to partners, customers and investors that can help them turn ideas into commercially successful products and services and business growth. Innovate UK finds businesses and research collaborations to accelerate innovation and drive business innovation into R&D. This support is available to businesses across all economic sectors, value chains and UK regions. Innovate UK is part of UK Research and Innovation.
For more information visit www.innovateuk.ukri.org
