HZD.L Regulatory News (HZD)

Horizon Discovery Licenses Biomanufacturing Cell Lines to Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) and National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT)

· Horizon helps CPI and NIBRT improve biomanufacturing through provision of novel bioproduction cell lines

· Post programme, Horizon will seek to continue to support companies working with CPI and NIBRT

Cambridge, UK, 13 September 2016: Horizon Discovery Group plc (LSE: HZD) ("Horizon"), the world leader in the application of gene editing technologies, today announces the establishment of new partnerships with both the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) and the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) to support biologic therapeutic manufacturing in the UK, Ireland and beyond.

Biological therapeutics represented 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, and is often restricted in ways that prevent their further optimisation by customers. This stifles innovation and can impede the launch of biological therapeutics due to the challenge of generating 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 aims 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.

This agreement allows any organisation, through CPI or NIBRT, to access Horizon's state of the art biomanufacturing cell lines for research purposes, benefiting the global bioprocessing community by allowing access to cutting edge bioproduction cell lines at an early stage of drug or technology development. This initiative reinforces Horizon's reputation as a leader and innovator, well positioned to support new biomanufacturing programmes whether in the UK or globally.

Upon completion of these studies, it is anticipated that many organisations will continue to use Horizon's cell lines, thereby establishing a long-term revenue stream for these high value products as they transition to use for commercial manufacture.

Darrin Disley, CEO, Horizon Discovery, commented: "Horizon is committed to driving innovation in bioprocessing. We value the opportunity to work with key industry players including CPI and NIBRT, to ensure that we are delivering the best solutions for our customers and ultimately for patients."

Fergal O'Brien, Director of Biologics, CPI said: "By providing their cell line for our research use, Horizon, together with the expertise of CPI, will create a powerhouse platform to develop bioprocessing solutions. We're excited to see the impact that this programme will have."

Killian O'Driscoll, Director of Projects, NIBRT said: "NIBRT are delighted to interact with Horizon, to combine their excellence and know-how in cell line development with NIBRT's cutting edge research, which together will provide solutions of real impact for the advancement and improvement of biopharmaceutical manufacturing."

ENDS

For further information from Horizon Discovery Group plc, please contact:

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

Zyme Communications (Trade and Regional Media)

Katie Odgaard

Tel: +44 (0)7787 502 947

Email: katie.odgaard@zymecommunications.com

Numis Securities Limited (Joint Broker and NOMAD)

Michael Meade / Freddie Barnfield

Tel: +44 (0) 207 260 1000

RBC Capital Markets (Joint Broker)

Paul Tomasic / Marcus Jackson

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7653 4000

For further information from CPI, please contact:

Helen Briggs

Tel: +44 (0)7920 818828 

Email: helen.briggs@uk-cpi.com

About Horizon Discovery Group plc www.horizondiscovery.com/

Horizon Discovery Group plc (LSE: HZD) ("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 and CRISPR) 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 c. 1,400 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.

Horizon is headquartered in Cambridge, UK, and is listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market under the ticker "HZD".

About CPI www.uk-cpi.com

The Centre for Process Innovation is a UK-based technology innovation centre and part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult. We use applied knowledge in science and engineering combined with state of the art development facilities to enable our clients to develop, prove, prototype and scale up the next generation of products and processes.

Our open innovation model enables clients to develop products and prove processes with minimal risk. We provide assets and expertise so our customers can demonstrate the process before investing substantial amounts of money in capital equipment and training. New products and processes can be shown to be feasible; on paper, in the lab and in the plant before being manufactured at an industrial scale.

By utilising our proven assets and expertise companies can take their products and processes to market faster. There is no down time in production as all of the process development is completed offsite and our technology transfer and engineering teams can help companies to transfer the product or process into full scale production at speed.

About NIBRT:

The National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) is a global centre of excellence for training and research in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. NIBRT is located in a world class facility in Dublin, Ireland. This facility is purpose built to closely replicate a modern bioprocessing plant with state-of the art equipment and enables NIBRT to offer the highest quality training and research solutions.

NIBRT's mission is to support the growth and development of all aspects of the biopharmaceutical industry by becoming the global leader in biopharmaceutical manufacturing research, education and training. This mission will be achieved by performing high impact, world class, industry aligned research in all aspects of bioprocessing, biopharmaceutical manufacturing, therapeutic protein characterisation, compliance and regulation and by designing, developing and delivering best-in-class education and training solutions across all levels to national and international students and workforces.

For further information, please visit www.nibrt.ie