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Science & Technology

Horizon Discovery Group and Rutgers Form Gene Editing Partnership

Horizon Discovery Group, a global leader in gene editing and gene modulation technologies, announced that it has entered into a partnership with Rutgers University to develop and commercialize a novel gene editing technology, known as base editing. The technology potentially has applications in the development of new cell therapies and will augment Horizon’s research tools and services.

Horizon Discovery Group will collaborate with Rutgers University to further develop the novel base editing platform from the laboratory of Dr. Shengkan Jin, associate professor of pharmacology at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

As part of the agreement, Horizon Discovery Group has made a non-material payment to Rutgers for an option to exclusively license the base editing technology for use in all therapeutic applications. As part of the collaboration, Horizon Discovery Group will also fund further research in base editing at Rutgers University while undertaking evaluation and proof of concept studies at Horizon Discovery Group.

Base editing is a novel technology platform for engineering DNA or genes in cells that has the potential to correct errors or mutations in the DNA by modifying genes using an enzyme. Compared with currently available gene editing methodologies such as CRISPR/Cas9, which creates “cuts” in the gene that can lead to adverse or negative effects, this new technology allows for more accurate gene editing while reducing unintended genomic changes. The technology will have a significant impact in enabling cell therapies to be progressed through clinical development and towards commercialization.

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