Horizon Discovery Group said today it will partner with Axol Bioscience to generate genomically modified and differentiated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The value of the collaboration and other financial terms were not disclosed.

The partnership is designed to combine Horizon’s precision genome editing capability with Axol’s expertise in iPSC reprogramming and differentiation.

Initially, Horizon and Axol will provide isogenic cell lines for neuronal and cardiovascular disease research. The partnership has the potential to be extended to a wide range of different disease areas and cell phenotypes, Horizon added.

The partners will generate matched isogenic pairs of normal and diseased models that encompass clinically relevant mutations. The iPSCs will be derived from a number of patient genetic backgrounds, then selectively modified into neuronal or cardiac cells to examine the effects of the changes.

Both companies will jointly market and sell products and services generated through their partnership. Custom requests to customer specifications will also be accepted, Horizon said.

According to Horizon, these renewable isogenic cell lines will be the first of their kind in the neuronal space.

“The partnership with Axol and resulting isogenic cell lines will offer the ability to assess the effects of disease specific mutations against a fixed genetic background, for the first time in these disease areas,” Horizon Discovery CTO Eric Rhodes said in a statement.

Added Axol CBO Sanj Kumar: “The combination of Horizon’s gene editing expertise with Axol’s experience in working with iPSCs will offer valuable new tools for researchers.”

Previous articleTop Issues Affecting Health Informatics
Next articleEpigenetic Study Reveals Prenatal Exposure of Children to Smoking