Horizon Discovery Group plc (LSE: HZD) ("Horizon"), is a gene editing company that designs and engineers genetically modified cells and then applies them in research and clinical applications in human health.
Horizon offers human disease models and reagents derived from genetically-engineered cells that its customers may use to gain knowledge of the genetic drivers of disease; develop novel drugs or cell therapies targeted at these genetic drivers; and develop companion diagnostics that predict patient response in the clinic.
Horizon is headquartered in Cambridge, UK, and is listed on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market under the ticker “HZD”.
Horizon signed agreements in December 2019 and January 2020 with
Mammoth Biosciences
Mammoth Biosciences is a biotechnology company based in Brisbane, California developing diagnostic tests using CRISPR-Cas12a and CRISPR-based therapies using its proprietary ultra-small CRISPR systems. Several CRISPR-Cas systems identified through ...
to combine Mammoth's intellectual property in
CRISPR with Horizon's expertise in
Chinese hamster ovary cell
Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are an epithelial cell line derived from the ovary of the Chinese hamster, often used in biological and medical research and commercially in the production of recombinant therapeutic proteins. They have found wide ...
s.
Perkin-Elmer
PerkinElmer, Inc., previously styled Perkin-Elmer, is an American global corporation focused in the business areas of diagnostics, life science research, food, environmental and industrial testing. Its capabilities include detection, imaging, inf ...
acquired Horizon Discovery for $383 million (£296 million) in November 2020.
Due to Perkin-Elmer split, since May 2023 Horizon Discovery is now part of Revvity, Inc.
Gene Editing
Gene editing is the process by which specific changes are made to the sequence of a gene within the context of a host cell. By editing the code of a patient-derived cell to introduce or repair a genetic change believed to drive disease, a patient’s disease can be reproduced in a laboratory setting, letting researchers ask important biological questions of potential drugs or cell therapies earlier in the drug discovery process.
Through its gene editing platform, Horizon is able to alter genes in most human or mammalian cell lines. Horizon now offers over 23,000 cell line pairs that model the mutations found in genetically based diseases.
These ‘patients-in-a-test-tube’ are may be used to identify the effect of individual or compound genetic mutations on drug activity, patient responsiveness, and resistance, which may lead to prediction of which patient sub-groups will respond to currently available and future drug treatments.
Once built, engineered cells can act as product manufacturing engines, yielding related cell and reagent products that can be used as research tools or molecular diagnostic reference standards or as a means to generate advanced ''in vivo'' models.
References
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Biotechnology companies of the United Kingdom
Companies based in Cambridgeshire
Research support companies
Science and technology in Cambridgeshire
South Cambridgeshire District
2005 establishments in England
Biotechnology companies established in 2005