Horizon Discovery Group’s newly aquired CombinatoRx division has been contracted by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development and Commercialization, Inc. (OPDC) to perform in vitro cell line screening of certain OPDC development candidates. Horizon will receive $835,000 for the work to be substantially completed this year.
 
Horizon CombinatoRx provides access to the cHTS platform and Chalice analytics software, which enable the screening and analysis of thousands of complementary drug combinations. 
 
Dr. Darrin M Disley, chief executive officer of Horizon Discovery Group, said, “The contract with OPDC represents the continued commercial traction of the CombinatoRx business following the acquisition which was in line with the strategy outlined at the time of Horizon’s IPO. We are delighted that OPDC has chosen to work with us on these screening projects.”
 
Edwin Rock, M.D., Ph.D., senior director, Global Clinical Development, OPDC, said, “As combination therapies emerge as the standard of care in a range of indications, it is important that we identify effective multi-target mechanisms. Using the Horizon CombinatoRx platform to explore our clinical stage programs in the context of combinations may provide us with information to guide development.”