--Horizon to provide human genomic reference standards to assure quality and performance of Transgenomic’s Multiplexed ICE COLD-PCR kits --
CAMBRIDGE, UK, and OMAHA, NE, USA (April, 23, 2015) -- Horizon Discovery Group plc (LSE:HZD) (Horizon), the international life science company supplying research tools and services that power genomics research and the development of personalized medicines, and Transgenomic, Inc. (NASDAQ: TBIO), a global biotechnology company advancing personalized medicine in cardiology, oncology and inherited diseases through advanced diagnostic tests and clinical and research services, today announced a new Original Equipment Manufacture (OEM) agreement to incorporate Horizon’s human genomic reference standards, produced by Horizon’s Diagnostics division, into Transgenomic’s Multiplexed ICE COLD-PCRTM (MX-ICP) kits for use in research and clinical applications. Further details of the agreement were not disclosed.
This agreement follows a collaborative project initiated last year between Horizon’s Diagnostics division and Transgenomic, which explored the utility of Horizon’s advanced reference standards in Transgenomic’s in vitro DNA mutation enrichment kits. The standards are being used in both quality control and mutation concentration assays.
Transgenomic’s MX-ICP technology offers major advantages for users of current sequencing technologies by delivering a sensitivity improvement of at least 100-fold in comparison to standard methodologies and enriching both known and previously unknown genetic alterations using a single multiplexed assay. The ultra-high sensitivity of MX-ICP makes it feasible to conduct comprehensive genomic analyses using either tissue biopsies or liquid samples such as blood or urine.
Dr. Paul Morrill, President, Products, Horizon Discovery Group, said: “To see our relationship with Transgenomic expand into a full OEM relationship after our initial collaboration project is a strong endorsement of Horizon’s expertise in this field. We are dedicated to ensuring that cutting edge molecular diagnostic assays, such as those developed by Transgenomic, can demonstrate their true clinical significance and performance. We are delighted that they have chosen to make our reference material available with every MX-ICP kit purchase. This important relationship is part of our forward strategy to drive sustainable core revenue growth as well as take a scientific leadership role in the field of personalized medicine.”
“Incorporating Horizon’s industry-leading controls into our MX-ICP kits supports our global commercialization campaign by providing customers and partners additional assurance of the exceptional performance of MX-ICP technology,” said Paul Kinnon, Transgenomic’s President and CEO. “The ultra-high sensitivity of MX-ICP enhances detection and identification of very low concentration, clinically important cancer mutations in tissue and liquid biopsies. Horizon’s highly characterized and quantitative genomic DNA-based reference standards support the high performance of our MX-ICP technology. We expect that they will be especially valuable in clinical applications.”
Further details of the agreement were not disclosed.
ENDS
About Horizon Discovery Group plc www.horizondiscovery.com/
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 of over 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, 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 over 16,000 products, almost all of which are based on the application of gene editing 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 rAAV, ZFN and CRISPR gene editing tools, custom cell line and in vivo model generation services for research and bioproduction applications, quantitative molecular reference standards, in vivo disease models, contract research and custom screening services and custom shRNA development services and off-the-shelf validated shRNA (through Horizon’s partner Sirion).
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.
About Horizon Diagnostics www.horizondx.com
Horizon Diagnostics, a division of Horizon Discovery Group plc, is a leading provider of genetically defined, human genomic reference standards, including FFPE cell line sections and purified genomic DNA. HDx™ Reference Standards offer a sustainable source of reference material to laboratories, proficiency schemes and manufacturers, providing an unprecedented level of control.
Variability in DNA extraction from tumour biopsies and a lack of standardisation are currently major sources of error in molecular laboratories. The availability of genetically defined reference materials provides an industry standard for development and quality control of molecular assays, directly improving their accuracy.
Horizon Diagnostics’ suite of reference material includes standards for the increasing number of ‘rare’ mutations being targeted for cancer therapeutics, which by definition are hard to find in clinical samples.
Drawing upon Horizon Discovery’s proprietary genome editing platform, Horizon Diagnostics reconstitutes clinically relevant cancer genes in human cell lines, exactly as they occur in patient tumours. Horizon Diagnostics is able to define virtually every characteristic of its reference standards, from the molecular constitution of the genome to the diameter, width and DNA output associated with each product batch. These standards have been made available in a variety of formats including genomic DNA (gDNA) aliquots, Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) slices and fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) material. Horizon Diagnostics is also adapting the technology to support immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays.
About Transgenomic
Transgenomic, Inc. is a global biotechnology company advancing personalized medicine in cardiology, oncology, and inherited diseases through advanced diagnostic technologies, such as its revolutionary ICE COLD-PCRTM and its unique genetic tests provided through its Patient Testing business. The company also provides specialized clinical and research services to biopharmaceutical companies developing targeted therapies and sells equipment, reagents and other consumables for applications in molecular testing and cytogenetics. Transgenomic’s diagnostic technologies are designed to improve medical diagnoses and patient outcomes.
About Multiplexed ICE COLD-PCRTM
Transgenomic’s Multiplexed ICE COLD-PCR (MX-ICP) enhances the sensitivity of current sequencing technologies by up to 100-fold. It detects both known and unknown genetic alterations and enables comprehensive genomic analysis of either tissue or liquid biopsies. MX-ICP is platform agnostic and is compatible with all sequencing platforms found in labs today, including the newest ultra-high throughput Next Generation Sequencing instruments. MX-ICP is robust, easy-to-use and simple to implement, requiring minimal disruption of established sequencing workflows.
For more information about Multiplexed ICE COLD-PCR technology, visit www.transgenomic.com/pharma-services/technology/ice-cold-pcr.
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