Otsuka, Horizon CombinatoRx Sign $835K In Vitro Cell Line Screening Deal
By Lori Clapper
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development and Commercialization (OPDC) has inked a $846 thousand deal with Horizon CombinatoRx, a division of the UK-based business Horizon Discovery, to perform in vitro cell line screening of certain OPDC drug development candidates in 2014.
OPDC currently has a number of compounds in development to treat disorders in the neuroscience, oncology, and cardio-renal therapeutic areas, as well as plans in the works for registration and marketing of said products.
Horizon CombinatoRx offers its partners access to its analytics software, which has the capability to screen and analyze thousands of complementary drug combinations. OPDC plans to use a combination of Horizon Discovery’s GENESIS gene editing platform and X-MAN isogenic cell line technology
“As combination therapies emerge as the standard of care in a range of indications, it is important that we identify effective multi-target mechanisms,” Edwin Rock, senior director of global clinical development for OPDC, said. “Using the Horizon CombinatoRx platform to explore our clinical stage programs in the context of combinations may provide us with information to guide development.”
In May 2014, Horizon bought out CombinatoRx from Zalicus to provide access to the unique cHTS platform and Chalice analytics software, which enables the screening and analysis of thousands of complementary drug combinations. The combination of the cHTS platform with Horizon’s GENESIS gene editing platform and X-MAN isogenic cell line technology, Horizon CombinatoRx will be able to offer services including novel phenotypic cell-based screens with compound siRNA, shRNA and sgRNA libraries, the company said in a press release.
“The contract with OPDC represents the continued commercial traction of the CombinatoRx business following the acquisition, which was in line with the strategy outlined at the time of Horizon’s IPO,” Dr. Darrin M Disley, CEO at Horizon Discovery said. “We are delighted that OPDC has chosen to work with us on these screening projects.”