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Horizon Discovery sees new cell line as significant opportunity

Last updated: 18:24 08 Dec 2014 AEDT, First published: 19:24 08 Dec 2014 AEDT

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Life sciences specialist Horizon Discovery (LON:HZD) believes it has tapped into a major new revenue stream with the launch of its first precisely engineered cell line.

The company added it did not see cell line development for the manufacturing of biotherapeutics as a significant revenue stream when it floated earlier this year but it has since emerged as a significant opportunity.

Horizon said access to state of the art cell lines for biomanufacturing had previously been limited by high costs and restrictive licensing conditions, but its licensing model of simplified terms and no associated royalties enabels companies of all sizes to be able to improve their upstream bioprocessing.

The biomanufacturing market is forecast to grow to £2.9bn by 2017. Used in the manufacturing of therapeutic antibodies, the new cell line reduces timelines associated with identifying specific cells that produce high levels of the biotherapeutic.

Brian Burke, Horizon Discovery’s business development director, said: "Cell line development has until now been a rate limiting step for improving upstream bioprocessing, particularly for challenging biomolecules.

“We see this as a key step to drive the potential for personalized medicine."

Darrin Disley, Horizon’s chief executive, added: "This work, based on a previously announced partnership with a major pharmaceutical partner, is a further example of how Horizon leverages customer projects and grant funding to generate revenue, profit and milestones for the business."

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