28 Oct 2015 07:00
Horizon Discovery Group plc Launches New E-Commerce Platform and Expands UK Headquarters
· Key investment includes an integrated web-shop and Enterprise Resource Planning system to support further scale and revenue growth
· Expansion of UK footprint and operations in new purpose-built Cambridge facility
Cambridge, UK, 28 October 2015: Horizon Discovery Group plc (LSE: HZD) ("Horizon" or "the Company"), the international life science company supplying genomics research tools and services that power genomics research and the development of personalized medicines, today announces the launch of its new eCommerce platform and integrated web-shop, and the expansion of its UK-based headquarters.
Horizon's investment in an advanced eCommerce platform with integrated web-shop, completed on time and on budget, alongside investments in an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, is in line with the Company's stated strategy to invest in operational infrastructure to drive core revenue growth. These systems are designed to substantially increase the number of sales leads generated, connecting customers, in particular academic, with Horizon's catalogue of over 20,000 cell lines and in vivo models, and clinical labs with the Company's extensive collection of reference standards. Further, by linking related products and services with business intelligence, the Company will be able to optimize its understanding of customer needs.
In addition, Horizon is expanding its Cambridge, UK-based headquarters, changing registered office, and expects to be able to begin operating from the new building in the first half of 2016. The facility, at 8100 Cambridge Research Park and based next door to Horizon's current headquarters, will accommodate up to 200 staff across manufacturing, services, research and general and administrative functions, and provides the Company a global footprint of 100,000 square feet in the UK, US and Austria.
Commenting on the announcement, Dr Darrin M Disley, Horizon's Chief Executive Officer, said: "The launch of our e-commerce platform, webshop and ERP is an important milestone for the Company and will underpin the greater scale up of our business for continued strong revenue growth. The expansion of our headquarters also reaffirms our commitment to the Cambridge, UK biotechnology community, and follows the continued growth in our products, services, and leveraged R&D businesses as described recently in our Interim Results."
ENDS
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For further information from Horizon Discovery Group plc, please contact:
Horizon Discovery Group plc
Dr. Darrin Disley CEO / Richard Vellacott CFO
Tel: +44 (0) 1223 655580
Consilium Strategic Communications (Financial Media and Investor Relations)
Amber Fennell / Jessica Hodgson / Matthew Neal / Laura Thornton
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
Panmure Gordon & Co. (NOMAD)
Corporate Finance: Freddy Crossley / Fabien Holler / Duncan Monteith
Corporate Broking: Tom Salvesen
Tel: +44 20 7886 2500
Notes for Editors
About Horizon Discovery Group plc www.horizondiscovery.com/
Horizon is a revenue-generating life science group supplying research tools to organizations engaged in translational genomics research and the development of personalized medicines. Horizon has a diverse and international customer base of over 1,200 organizations across more than 50 countries, including major pharmaceutical, biotechnology and diagnostic companies as well as leading academic research centers. The Group supplies its products and services into multiple markets, estimated to total in excess of £29 billion by 2015.
Horizon's core capabilities are built around its proprietary translational genomics platform, a high-precision and flexible suite of gene editing tools able to alter almost any endogenous gene sequence of human or mammalian cell-lines. Horizon offers over 20,000 catalogue products, almost all of which are based on the application of gene editing to generate cell lines that accurately model the disease-causing mutations found in genetically based diseases. These 'patients-in-a-test-tube' are being used by customers to identify the effect of individual or compound genetic mutations on drug activity, patient responsiveness, and resistance, which may lead to the successful prediction of which patient sub-groups will respond to currently available and future drug treatments.
In addition, Horizon provides custom cell line and in vivo model generation services for research and bioproduction applications, quantitative molecular reference standards, in vivo disease models, and contract research and custom screening services.
Horizon is headquartered in Cambridge, UK, and is listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market under the ticker "HZD", for further information please visit: www.horizondiscovery.com.