Horizon enters into non-exclusive out-licensing agreement with US-based company

Horizon Discovery Group, gene editing and modulation technologies company, has entered into a non-exclusive out-licensing agreement with a US-based immune-oncology therapeutics developer.

Under the terms of the agreement, Horizon will license a novel cell line engineering technology to its US partner as well as non-exclusive rights to its proprietary Helitron transposon gene editing technology for an undisclosed financial consideration.

The cell line will be used to modify a current Horizon biomanufacturing cell line in order to generate an intermediate. This will then be further modified through the application of the Helitron transposon gene editing technology, introducing specific changes such as the integration of antibody sequences. It is this intermediate cell line that will be employed in the development of a wide range of cell lines for the production of specific antibodies.

Horizon will retain commercial rights to the improved cell line and Helitron transposon technology, and will seek additional third-party license agreements for these technologies and others under development.

“Innovation and leverage of our capabilities, of which both intermediate cell line engineering and transposon technologies are key examples, are important parts of our strategy as we continue to develop novel ways to address the key challenges facing our customers,” stated Dr Darrin M Disley, chief executive officer, Horizon Discovery. “This agreement demonstrates the impact of this approach and the value of licenses to our novel technologies, and we anticipate this becoming a significant additional revenue stream for the Group going forward.”