LONDON (Alliance News) - AstraZeneca PLc and GlaxoSmithKline PLC are amongst the first ten companies to sign up to form a consortium as part of the 100,000 Genomes Project, launched by the UK Department of Health's Genomics England.
The consortium, which also includes F Hoffmann-La Roche AG and AbbVie Inc, will work on a year long industry trial involving a selection of whole genome sequences across cancer and rare diseases. The trial is aiming to find the "most effective and secure way" to bring industry expertise into the 100,000 Genomes Project in order to realise potential benefits for patients.
It will be called the Genomics Expert Network for Enterprises Consortium.
The 100,000 Genomes Project is a four-year project using data from the national health service to perform whole genome sequencing of 100,000 participant samples. Nearly 3,000 genomes have now been sequenced under the project, Genomics England said.
Shares in AstraZeneca are trading down 1.3% at 4,702.00 pence Thursday afternoon, and Glaxo down 1.1% at 1,578.50 pence.
By Hana Stewart-Smith; hanassmith@alliancenews.com; @HanaSSAllNews
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