1 Jun 2016 07:00
Horizon Discovery Group's Molecular Reference Standards integrated into QIAGEN GeneReader NGS System
· Deal demonstrates the impact Horizon's Reference Standards are having in supporting the rapidly growing Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) market
· Future joint collaborations are expected as work continues to unlock the full clinical and research potential of both technologies
Cambridge, UK, 1 June 2016: Horizon Discovery Group plc (LSE: HZD) ("Horizon"), the world leader in the application of gene editing technologies, today announces that QIAGEN N.V. (NASDAQ: QGEN; Frankfurt Prime Standard: QIA) will be offering an extensive package of quality control data, generated through the application of Horizon's Reference Standards, with its GeneReader NGS System.
As part of the project, QIAGEN thoroughly validated its platform using Horizon's Molecular Reference Standards. The very high levels of consistency seen provided QIAGEN with the confidence to use Horizon's Standards to generate their data set.
By incorporating this data set into the GeneReader NGS System workflows, QIAGEN is able to reinforce the proven accuracy of its NGS platform, facilitating system setup, quality assurance and training for laboratories.
Further, QIAGEN's GeneRead QIAact Actionable Insights Tumor Panel is the first in a family of multiplex panels for the GeneReader NGS System targeting the most prevalent types of cancer research, including breast, ovarian, colorectal, lung and melanoma. The accuracy, consistency and reliability of this Panel was validated through extensive testing compared with the control data derived from Horizon's Reference Standards, proving its performance.
Dr Paul Morrill, President, Products Business, Horizon Discovery Group, commented: "The incorporation of Horizon's widely-used and well-established Reference Standards as a data set into the GeneReader NGS workflow reinforces the critical role that they play in the adoption of NGS workflows by clinical research laboratories." He continued: "As the GeneReader and its associated panels are adopted, we anticipate that, in addition to their use as the basis of this data set, our Reference Standards will be used to support ongoing quality control in many labs, and we look forward to continuing to collaborate with QIAGEN as work continues to unlock the full potential of both technologies."
"We created the GeneReader NGS System to provide the world's first truly complete solution for next-generation sequencing," said Jonathan Arnold, QIAGEN's Oncology Franchise Business Leader. "The excellent quality and consistency of Horizon's Reference Standards has allowed for the generation of a powerful data set. Their integration into the GeneReader NGS System makes quality assurance easier for users - from system set-up and training laboratory staff to supporting the ongoing quality control of NGS workflows."
ENDS
Notes for editors:
About Next Generation Sequencing
NGS is now at the forefront of the battle against cancer as it enables the screening of a broad range of biomarkers in a single sample. However, this has created new challenges around assay verification and validation, from sample extraction and library preparation through to sequencing chemistry and informatics. These are all steps where variability can be introduced that could influence the accuracy of samples, and must be controlled. The use of robust and precisely defined reference materials is therefore critical to the ongoing adoption of NGS platforms in healthcare.
About the GeneReader NGS System
The platform, introduced in late 2015, is gaining adoption as a highly efficient solution to address fragmented NGS workflows and bottlenecks that have hindered many research labs from achieving actionable insights from next-generation sequencing. QIAGEN is developing a range of enhancements that will add further value, including the newly announced launch of the QIAact Actionable Insights Tumor Panel using non-invasive blood plasma samples for monitoring resistance variants, as well as upcoming gene panels with additional content focusing on breast and lung cancer.
QIAGEN will demonstrate the GeneReader NGS System and the QIAact Actionable Insights Tumor Panel at Booth 18031at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2016 Annual Meeting on June 3-7, 2016, in Chicago. For more information on QIAGEN's presence at ASCO please visit QIAGEN.oncologysolutions.com/ASCO16.
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 in vivo models that accurately recapitulate the disease-causing genetic anomalies found in diseases like cancer. Horizon's commercial offering has been adopted by c1,400 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 QIAGEN
QIAGEN N.V., a Netherlands-based holding company, is the leading global provider of Sample to Insight solutions that enable customers to gain valuable molecular insights from samples containing the building blocks of life. Our sample technologies isolate and process DNA, RNA and proteins from blood, tissue and other materials. Assay technologies make these biomolecules visible and ready for analysis. Bioinformatics software and knowledge bases interpret data to report relevant, actionable insights. Automation solutions tie these together in seamless and cost-effective workflows. QIAGEN provides solutions to more than 500,000 customers around the world in Molecular Diagnostics (human healthcare), Applied Testing (forensics, veterinary testing and food safety), Pharma (pharma and biotech companies) and Academia (life sciences research). As of March 31, 2016, QIAGEN employed approximately 4,600 people in over 35 locations worldwide. Further information can be found at http://www.QIAGEN.com.
For further information from Horizon Discovery Group plc, please contact:
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
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