Horizon Discovery and C4X Discovery Holdings Enter Exclusive Target Discovery Partnership

Horizon Discovery Group, a UK-based gene editing and modulation specialist, and C4X Discovery Holdings (C4XD), a drug discovery company, have entered into an exclusive partnership aimed at validating targets and developing next-generation oncology drugs.

Within the terms of the agreement, novel synthetic lethal oncology targets that have been identified by Horizon using CRISPR-Cas9 technology will be validated. The validated targets will then be used for the discovery of pre-clinical drug candidates, which will be performed by C4XD’s 4-D shape-based chemistry technology (Conformetrix). Through this collaborative work, the companies are aiming to deliver potential new drugs for patients with limited effective available treatments.

“This partnership with Horizon gives C4XD access to a comprehensive proprietary CRISPR screening dataset that has selected the most promising novel drug targets in colon and lung cancer,” said Dr Craig Fox, chief scientific officer of C4XD in a Dec. 17, 2018 press release. “We look forward to working with the highly experienced team at Horizon to complete the target validation package for these novel genes and initiate drug discovery programs to generate high value pre-clinical licensable assets for partnering.”

Dr Jon Moore, Horizon’s chief scientific officer, added, “We are delighted to have secured this collaboration with C4X Discovery, which applies a powerful drug discovery engine to the opportunities for transformational medicines represented by the targets Horizon has found and allows Horizon to share in the upside.”

Funding for the work plan will be provided by C4XD with Horizon receiving a share of all future revenues if drug discovery programs emerging from the partnership are out-licensed for clinical development.

Source: C4XD