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- Posted Wednesday February 10, 2010
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) becomes center of excellence for Horizon Discovery's GENESIS and X-MAN technology
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and Horizon
Discovery today announced plans to develop human disease models for
use in TGen's cancer research.
A research-collaboration and sub-licensing agreement will allow
TGen investigators to use Horizon's GENESIS™ and X-MAN™
technologies to accelerate the search for new drug targets,
biomarkers and anti-cancer agents, which could provide patients
with more effective treatments.
Dr. Daniel Von Hoff, TGen's Physician-In-Chief and senior
investigator will head the effort at TGen. Dr. Von Hoff is a
leading advocate of developing precision cancer therapies. Dr. Von
Hoff also is a leader in clinical trial design for agents that are
based on an understanding of the cancer genes in patients'
tumors.
"TGen is eager to partner with Horizon in the use of these new
technologies, which should enhance our research efforts to provide
patients with significantly better outcomes,'' Dr. Von Hoff
said.
Horizon's core gene-targeting technology and human isogenic
cell-lines are expected to enable TGen to create a key center of
excellence in translational medicine for generating and applying
predictive human disease models in drug discovery.
"Our over-arching mission is to speed up the research, development
and prescription of more rational therapies that target the root
causes of cancer development in each patient's tumor," said Dr.
Chris Torrance, CEO of Horizon, based in Cambridge, U.K. "TGen
investigators are visionaries in this respect and we are honored to
enable them with Horizon's GENESIS technology to generate a novel
pipeline of X-MAN cancer models to support cutting-edge
translational oncology research."
Under terms of the collaboration, TGen will use Horizon proprietary
technology and know-how to develop a panel of novel cancer
cell-lines, which will be licensed back to Horizon for future
licensing to the broader academic, biotech and pharma research
communities. The parties also have agreed to share, publish and
commercialize data from the research program, subject to future
commercial terms.
This type of open-source relationship will be replicated in the
future by Horizon at selected centers of excellence for
translational research with the aim of deciphering the genetic
links to cancer and other debilitating diseases.
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About Horizon Discovery
Horizon Discovery is a translational genomics and personalised
medicine company founded in June 2007 and is headquartered at IQ
Cambridge, Cambridge, U.K., and with additional research
laboratories in Torino, Italy. Horizon's goal is to convert new
information on the genetic causes of cancer into laboratory models
that will facilitate the discovery of drugs that target these
defects. Central to this aim is Horizon Discovery's offering of
X-MAN isogenic cell-lines, which represent accurate models of
defined cancer patient populations and their matched normal genetic
backgrounds - a missing link in the rational and efficient
development of novel targeted anti-cancer agents. These X-MAN
models are now being used to speed up and rationalize every phase
of the drug development process; from the discovery of cancer
targets and biomarkers to the design of more rational clinical
trials based around the patients most likely to respond.
Press Contact: Dr. Darrin M. Disley on +44 (0)1223 303049 or +44
(0)7786 133893 www.horizondiscovery.com
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About TGen
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix,
Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting
groundbreaking research with life changing results. Research at
TGen is focused on helping patients with diseases such as cancer,
neurological disorders and diabetes. TGen is on the cutting edge of
translational research where investigators are able to unravel the
genetic components of common and complex diseases. Working with
collaborators in the scientific and medical communities, TGen
believes it can make a substantial contribution to the efficiency
and effectiveness of the translational process. TGen is affiliated
with the Van Andel Research Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
For more information, visit: www.tgen.org.
Press Contact:
Steve Yozwiak
TGen Senior Science Writer
602-343-8704
[email protected]
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