Horizon Discovery's RNA Reference Standards Endorsed By Thermo Fisher Scientific's White Paper For Use In Cancer Research Testing

Horizon Discovery Group plc ("Horizon" or “the Company”), the world leader in the application of gene editing technologies, recently notes its complete RNA reference standards product range have been endorsed by Thermo Fisher Scientific (“Thermo Fisher”) for use in its Ion Ampliseq and Oncomine fusion assays for cancer research. The results from the 6-month collaborative project have been published by Thermo Fisher in a White Paper.

The White Paper concludes that by combining Horizon’s RNA reference standards with Thermo Fisher’s Ampliseq and Oncomine fusion assays in oncology research, end-users will be provided with a robust and reliable solution compared to existing reference standards. The RNA reference standards endorsed in the White Paper, include Horizon’s additional new RNA reference standard, 5-Fusion Multiplex, which will be launched in July 2017.

Dr. Darrin M Disley, Chief Executive Officer, Horizon Discovery Group, commented: “This White Paper by Thermo Fisher reaffirms Horizon’s global leadership position in the provision of high-quality molecular reference standards. Accurate diagnostic testing is a critical component of effective patient treatment and a key contributor to minimising positive and negative errors in diagnostic results. Horizon is the pioneer and “go to” company in this important field that provides more accurate outcomes for researchers, pathology labs and, ultimately, healthcare providers and patients.”

About HDxTM Reference Standards
There are many potential sources of variability that can lead to molecular diagnostic tests providing erroneous results. HDx Reference Standards offer a source of genetically defined, quantitative, sustainable and independent third party reference material, critical to the validation and routine performance monitoring of assays, providing an unprecedented level of control. Horizon reference standards are available in broad range of formats including Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) cell line sections and purified genomic DNA (gDNA).

Glossary:

• Assay – an analysis performed to determine the presence of a substance and the amount of that substance
• Reference standard – a highly characterized, standardised and validated material that enables the measurement of the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of assays and workflows.

About Horizon Discovery Group plc
Horizon Discovery Group plc ("Horizon"), is a world-leading gene editing company that designs and engineers genetically-modified cells and then applies them in research and clinical applications that advance human health.

Horizon’s core capabilities are built around its proprietary translational genomics platform, a highly precise and flexible suite of gene editing tools (rAAV, ZFN, CRISPR and Transposon) able to alter almost any gene sequence in human or mammalian cell-lines.

Horizon offers over 23,000 catalogue products and related research services, almost all of which are based on the generation and application of cell and animal models that accurately recapitulate the disease-causing genetic anomalies found in diseases like cancer. Horizon’s commercial offering has been adopted by over 1,600 unique research organisations in over 50 countries as well as in the Company’s own R&D pipeline to support a greater understanding of the genetic drivers of disease and the development of molecular, cell and gene therapies that can be prescribed on a personalised basis. For more information, visit www.horizondiscovery.com.