About us
Horizon Discovery Services is a contract research organization providing oncology translational research services to the biotech and pharma community. HDS combines novel isogenic and non-isogenic cell-based assay formats with 15 years of oncology, cell biology and contract research expertise to deliver a first-class drug discovery service.
Horizon Discovery’s X-MAN™ cell lines, which have been referred to as “patients-in-a-test-tube,” accurately model the disease-causing mutations in cancer patients. The X-MAN cell lines are being used by academic and industry leaders to identify the effect of individual mutations on drug activity, patient responsiveness and resistance, and to successfully predict which patient sub-groups will respond to currently-available and future drug treatments. This supports the design of shorter, more focused clinical trials, making it possible to identify the ‘right drugs’ for the ‘right patients’ based upon the unique genetic mutations that define their disease.
HDS clients are able to access Horizon Discovery’s 250+ patient-relevant X-MAN human isogenic cancer cell models as well as 70 complimentary non-isogenic cancer cell lines. This enables clients to exploit HDS’s expertise in handling the lines and to gain data quickly in order to study how specific cancer genes and mutations affect sensitivity to therapeutic compounds. Services provided by HDS include a suite of bespoke X-MAN Pathways assay, such as 2D and 3D phenotypic assays, tumor microenvironment studies including limited oxygen, growth factors and nutrient supplies, and responsive-patient prediction.
In addition, HDS clients can access a comprehenisive range of preclinical services via its exclusive US discovery services partner TGen Drug Development (TD2). Through TD2 we can offer both high-throughput in-vitro and in-vivo X-MAN Pathways studies. The ability to design clinically relevant animal models that are more precise analogs of the human condition is the primary value proposition of the HDS/TD2 alliance. This means we have capability to design in vitro and in vivo testing strategies that evaluate a client's compound in unique ways that predict optimal development pathways for a drug (for example determining how to best use an agent in combination with other experimental or FDA-approved treatments)
Founded in 2006 by Dr Kyla Grimshaw and Dan Cowell, and based on the Cambridge Science Park, HDS has fully-equipped laboratories and recruited cell biologists with oncology-focused industry and academic expertise. HDS has attracted a wide range of clients and successfully delivered on over 100 projects, significantly contributing to clients drug discovery programs.
