Since the launch of the programme in December 2014, pharmaceutical, biotech and contract manufacturing organisations around the world have engaged in product evaluations which are now resulting in several high margin licensing deals being signed and establishing a strong pipeline for 2017. Over 20 biomanufacturing cell line evaluations are currently underway, including three in China and a further two in India.
Asia is an important market for the pharmaceutical industry, with the market in China growing at 12% (1) and in India at 11%, and many of the world’s biosimilar companies (generic biotherapeutics) are located in the region. Following a successful evaluation period, Horizon has granted its first commercial license in China to a major regional pharmaceutical company. Horizon has also signed its first commercial license in India, with visibility to a further two licenses likely to be signed in Q1, demonstrating the Company’s successful penetration into these markets.
Each evaluation project varies in size and scope, providing from £10k to £30k in revenue and operating for 6-12 months. Upon completion, if a commercial license is taken, each project is valued at between £150,000 and £350,000 dependent on terms. Several of these evaluations are expected to conclude by Q1 2017.
Dr. Darrin Disley, Chief Executive Officer, Horizon Discovery, commented: “Today’s announcement demonstrates the scalable potential of Horizon’s high margin Biomanufacturing business. With numerous evaluations currently underway, and the Company poised to see broad adoption in future drug manufacturing workflows, Horizon is well positioned to continue its disruptive business model in the market.”
(1) Fierce Biotech: http://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma-asia/big-three-asia-pharma-markets-poised-to-soar-2015-reports-say
About Horizon’s Biomanufacturing platform:
Biological therapeutics made up seven of the top ten best selling drugs of 2015, and they feature extensively in developmental pipelines. Access to bioproduction cell lines for their manufacture can be cost prohibitive however, and is often restricted in ways that prevent their further optimisation by customers. This stifles innovation and means that drugs are not always getting to market due to the inability to generate bioproduction cell lines that meet the needs of commercial release.
Horizon is using its expertise in genome engineering to improve biological therapeutics manufacturing. As well as developing a tool box of cell lines for the manufacture of a range of current and next generation biological therapeutics, Horizon wants to encourage innovation in other organisations by allowing access to its state of the art bioproduction cell line platform (CHO SOURCE) under flexible licensing terms that include allowing the further modification of cells.
Glossary:
Biomanufacturing: A type of manufacturing that utilizes biological systems to produce commercially important biomaterials and biomolecules for use in medicines
Biotherapeutic: A therapeutic material produced using biological means, for example an antibody
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For further information from Horizon Discovery Group plc, please contact:
Zyme Communications (Trade and Regional Media)
Katie Odgaard
Tel: +44 (0)7787 502 947
Email: katie.odgaard@zymecommunications.com
Horizon Discovery Group plc
Darrin Disley, Chief Executive Officer
Richard Vellacott, Chief Financial Officer
Chris Claxton, VP Investor Relations
Tel: +44 (0) 1223 655 580
Consilium Strategic Communications (Financial Media and Investor Relations)
Mary-Jane Elliott / Susan Stuart / Matthew Neal / Melissa Gardiner
Tel: +44 (0) 20 3709 5701
Email: horizon@consilium-comms.com ______________________________________