UK biotech Horizon signs deal for genetically defined cell lines

Licensing agreement

Horizon Discovery Ltd signed two commercial agreements with a US cancer start-up Agios Pharmaceuticals for its X-MAN (Mutant And Normal) cell line technology.

Horizon says these cell lines provide the first genetically defined and patient-relevant in vitro models of human cancer. The models are being used by a growing number of pharma and biotech companies to rationalise key steps in drug development, and thus accelerate the burgeoning field of personalised medicine.

The agreements cover the licensing of certain X-MAN cell lines, including major cancer causing genes and their matched normal genetic backgrounds, plus the screening of a number of Agios lead compounds on a wide panel of genotypes. This approach should enable Agios to understand how key oncogenic pathways of cancer cells survive in tumours and to predict genomic makeup of tumours that will respond to its compounds.

Chris Torrance, CEO of Horizon, said, “It has always been our aim combine our novel patient-relevant cancer models with new start-up technologies. In Agios’ case the aim is to target the energy sources [used by tumours to grow], to increase the ways we can attack this diverse genetic disease.

Agios will pay Cambridge-based Horizon undisclosed up-front and renewal fees during the term of the agreements.