Genetic biomarkers supplied by Horizon Discovery Group PLC’s (LON:HZD) were used as the reference standard in a recent US pre-market approval application for a colorectal cancer diagnostic tool, it said today.
In the development and subsequent clinical trial, Horizon's materials helped establish the performance specifications of the assay and were used for development and quality control of the molecular assays.
Horizon has expertise in the identification of colorectal cancer through its co –founder Professor Alberto Bardelli and Dr. Sabine Tejpar (a scientific board member) who first made the link between K-RAS mutations and resistance to standad care drugs in up to 65% of colon cancer sufferers.
The company carried on the work through the COLTHERES consortium, a four year €6 million funded collaboration of EU-based clinical centers and translational researchers, which identified additional biomarkers in the 30-40% of patients who are resistant to Cetuximab, a therapeutic for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer.
Darrin Disley, Horizon’s chief executive said: ”We are pleased that our Reference Standards have proven such a valuable component of this seminal clinical trial and FDA approval with one of the world's leading players in the genomics and diagnostics market.
“We are currently supporting many similar trials and products and look forward to making an impact on the lives of patients through our products."