Newly floated Cambridge BioTech company formed in 2007 has over 300 customers including Astra Zeneca.

Floated at 180p.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horizon_Discovery

20 Jul N+1 Singer N/A Buy
20 Jul Panmure Gordon 270.00 Buy

In-licensing agreement with Servier
RNS
RNS Number : 4518B
Horizon Discovery Group plc
07 October 2015



Horizon Discovery Group plc In-licenses Oncology

Programme from Servier and Enters Option Agreement



· License programme with milestone payments of up to £50 million plus royalties on product sales

· Horizon to in-license novel kinase inhibitor programme from Servier

· Horizon will exploit its translational genomics and combination sciences platform to define optimum approaches to treatment and identify cancer patient populations most likely to respond



Cambridge, UK, 7 October 2015: Horizon Discovery Group plc (LSE: HZD) ("Horizon" or "the Company"), the international life science company supplying research tools and services that power genomics research and the development of personalised medicines, announces today that its leveraged business unit has signed a programme in-licensing and option agreement with Servier, the independent French research-based pharmaceutical company . The agreement is potentially worth over £50 million to Horizon in preclinical and clinical milestones, payments linked to net sales, and tiered royalties on future product sales.



Horizon has in-licensed novel kinase inhibitors from Servier that exhibit great promise based on pre-clinical data for treatment of a range of cancer types but do not currently have a biomarker to define a sensitive patient population. Horizon will use its world-leading platform, comprising isogenic cell lines and in vivo models, CRISPR-Cas9 mediated gene editing technology and ultra-high-throughput combination screening, to identify the population of cancer patients most likely to respond to the in-licensed compounds, whether as single agents or in combinations with other drugs. Horizon also has the option to explore the use of the inhibitors in other therapeutic indications.



Under the terms of the agreement, Servier has a first option to license back the assets. Should Servier take up this option, Horizon would receive up to £50 million in milestone payments plus royalties on product sales. If Servier does not take up its option, Horizon will be free to seek another pharma partner and Horizon and Servier would then share in the success of the progression of the programme as it advances into the clinic and registration.



Horizon will evaluate the mechanism of action of the candidate compounds, and will verify the patient stratification hypothesis by both in vitro and in vivo preclinical experiments. Horizon will also define a path towards the development of biomarkers for both patient stratification and drug efficacy.



Dr. Darrin M. Disley, Chief Executive Officer of Horizon Discovery Group plc, said: "The in-license of assets with a strong pre-clinical pedigree but do not yet have a clear clinical development strategy, represents a great opportunity for companies like Horizon. Demonstrating our scientific leadership through our translational genomics, drug combination and biomarker discovery platforms; we seek to identify genetic markers that predict drug sensitivity enabling programmes like this one to be progressed rapidly into the clinic for defined patient populations. This innovative deal, as part of our strategy to drive accelerated growth, offers significant upside potential for our investors built upon the leverage of our intellectual property, technology platforms and know-how."



Mr Jean Pierre Abastado, Director of Oncology Innovation, Servier, commented: "The long standing collaboration between Servier and Vernalis has led to the discovery of novel kinase inhibitors. Horizon's technology portfolio and expertise makes them ideally positioned to progress these drug candidates into the clinic and to investigate their potential for therapeutic efficacy both alone and in combination therapies. Servier is committed to driving therapeutic progress for the benefit of patients, with partnerships such as this playing a key role."



ENDS

7 Oct N+1 Singer 194.00 Buy
7 Oct Panmure Gordon 270.00 Buy

Preliminary Results for the Year Ended 31 Dec 2015

RNS


RNS Number : 3137W

Horizon Discovery Group plc

26 April 2016




Horizon Discovery Group plc

Preliminary Results for the Year Ended 31 December 2015



· Horizon reports strong full year 2015 results with revenue and EBITDA ahead of consensus

· Revenues grow by 69%

· Research milestone portfolio increased 32%

· Delivery of investments in line with strategic plan is driving financial and operational growth



Cambridge, UK, 26 April 2016: Horizon Discovery Group plc (LSE: HZD) ("Horizon" or "the Company"), the world leader in the application of gene editing technologies, is pleased to announce its preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2015.

Financial highlights

· Total Group revenue increased by 69% to £20.2m (2014: £11.9m)

· Product revenues increased by 124% to £7.8m (2014: £3.5m)

· Services revenues increased by 69% to £12.2m (2014: £7.2m)

· Research milestone portfolio increased 32% to approximately £208m (2014: £158m) plus royalties

· EBITDA loss of £6.6m (2014: £4.0m) ahead of market expectations (see note 2)

· Closing cash and cash equivalents of £25.1m (2014: £18.5m)

Corporate highlights

· Rapid expansion of the product catalogue to over 23,000 genetically-defined cell line and in vivo models, and molecular diagnostic reagents at the end of 2015 (2014: 2,750 products)

· Creation of a fully-integrated life science gene editing services company through the successful integration of recent acquisitions, delivering synergies for our business and customers

· Share placing to raise gross proceeds of £25.0 million for the Company being deployed in targeted investments in scalable infrastructure improvements and scientific leadership

· High profile partnerships signed with leading partners, improving channels to market in product development, research biotech and services businesses

· Board strengthened through the appointment of Grahame Cook as a Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee

Post-period highlights

· Formation of a joint venture, Avvinity Therapeutics, with Centauri Therapeutics Ltd, to explore the development and discovery of novel therapeutics for immuno-oncology

Dr. Darrin Disley, CEO of Horizon Discovery Group plc, commented: "2015 has been characterised by continued strong growth for Horizon by strengthening our core capabilities in the application of gene editing technologies to 'build cells'. This solid foundation has allowed for the rapid expansion of our catalogue to over 23,000 products, including many belonging to our high-growth diagnostic reagents business, and the broadening of our service capabilities with the launch of new drug combination, in vivo and CRISPR screening offers.

"This year has also seen Horizon reinforce our business engine through targeted investments in our internal infrastructure including investment in ecommerce and ERP systems, the successful integration of our acquisitions, and by establishing new channels to market with partnerships with leading organisations such as ThermoFisher and Abcam for our cell lines and through an increasing number of OEM deals for our molecular reference standards.

"Success in the new era of Personalised and Genomic Medicine depends on a precise and deep understanding of patient genetics and an unparalleled expertise in precision gene editing. Horizon is at the forefront of these game-changing areas of medicine, and we remain committed to continuing to deliver our strategy of supplying innovative products, services and research that impact the development of personalised medicines through 2016 and beyond. We are excited about our prospects for the future as we continue to build a world class business."



ENDS

Who Should Attend?Date:

Tuesday 23rd August 2016

Venue:

Novotel Tower Bridge, London EC3N, 10 Pepys Street, London, EC3N 2NR

Event Timings:Sponsored by:

Results out this morning.

The future seems to look extremely promising:

Post-period highlights

-- Strong start to 2017, with Q1 revenue up c25% year on year, underpinning guidance of FY17 revenue between GBP30-35m

-- Immuno-oncology set to be a powerful growth driver generating GBP1.5m in current and ongoing Products and Services in FY17 to date, c40% increase over FY16, and >10 novel drug targets and molecules in development for future or via joint-ventures or spin-outs

-- Exclusive licenses for the use of a novel transposon-based gene editing platform, providing a unique approach to gene editing and DNA delivery and enabling the use of gene editing in bioproduction, diagnostics products and for the first time directly as a cell or gene therapy

-- Signing of a Master Services Agreement with a top three global pharmaceutical company, extending support for their drug discovery and development efforts to Horizon's full suite of services

Share price up more than 50% in 10 weeks since that last post (up 100p)