Horizon Discovery Group enters bioproduction cell line licensing agreement with LakePharma

LakePharma has adapted Horizon’s CHO cell for suspension growth, the preferred cell cultivation method for many manufacturing applications. Subsequently, LakePharma carried out a full evaluation of protein expression on the CHO cell line, showing significantly higher antibody production levels relative to their previous system. The evaluation also demonstrated the ability to identify a final expression clone after a relatively simple screening effort.

In alignment with strategic priorities, Horizon has leveraged this development effort to ensure that this cell line is now available for other organizations to license from Horizon for the manufacturing of biological therapeutics.

Dr Darrin M Disley, Horizon’s CEO, said: “The license agreement with LakePharma, the first of its kind, serves as recognition and validation of our approach to developing novel bioproduction cell lines. Until now, cell line development has been a rate-limiting step for improving upstream bioprocessing. With precise gene editing we are able to provide a key step in the path toward delivering next generation biological medicines. We look forward to seeing further uptake of this approach within the industry.”

Dr Fan Chen, Director of Bioprocessing, LakePharma, said: “The license agreement with Horizon allows us to offer a superior expression cell line to our customers, providing better value to them, while the one-time fee allows us maximal flexibility to utilize the cells to their best effect. I am delighted that the hard work we put in to adapting these cells has been reflected in their commercialization by Horizon.”