Horizon Discovery
A UK biotechnology company that develops gene-edited cells, disease models, research reagents, and molecular diagnostic tools.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Horizon Discovery is a biotechnology company headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom, focused on the use of gene editing and cell engineering in biomedical research and human-health applications. The company designs and engineers genetically modified human and mammalian cells, then develops those cells into research products, disease models, molecular tools, and services for organizations working in drug discovery, cell therapy, translational research, and diagnostics. Its central proposition is that precisely modified cells can provide more informative experimental systems than conventional cell cultures. Researchers can introduce, repair, or reproduce genetic changes associated with disease and then study how those changes affect cellular behavior, drug activity, treatment response, and resistance. Horizon describes these engineered systems as disease models that can help researchers investigate the genetic drivers of illness and assess potential medicines or cell therapies before progressing to clinical work. A major part of the business is the creation of paired cell lines: an engineered line containing a defined genetic alteration and a matched control line. These pairs can help isolate the effect of a mutation or other genomic change. The company has offered a large catalogue of engineered cell lines, including models intended to represent mutations involved in genetically driven diseases. Its portfolio also includes gene-editing reagents and tools, engineered cells, molecular biology products, and reference materials for diagnostic development. Horizon’s products and services serve several related use cases. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology researchers may use engineered cells to identify biological mechanisms, validate therapeutic targets, compare drug responses among genetic backgrounds, and explore why resistance develops. Cell and gene therapy developers may use engineered cells and associated assays during research and development. Diagnostic developers may use genetically defined materials as reference standards or as components in the creation and validation of companion diagnostic methods. Engineered cells can also support the production of research reagents and provide starting points for more advanced disease-modeling work. The company’s technology strategy has included collaborations intended to combine gene-editing capabilities with specialized mammalian cell systems. In December 2019 and January 2020, Horizon entered agreements with Mammoth Biosciences concerning the use of Mammoth’s CRISPR intellectual property alongside Horizon’s expertise in Chinese hamster ovary cells. These arrangements reflected Horizon’s effort to extend gene-editing applications beyond individual research products and into broader cell-engineering and biomanufacturing workflows. Horizon was acquired by PerkinElmer in 2020 in a transaction reported at approximately $383 million, or £296 million. Following the later separation of PerkinElmer’s businesses, Horizon became part of Revvity, Inc. in May 2023. It therefore operates within a larger life-sciences and diagnostics group rather than as an independent publicly traded company. The Horizon identity remains associated with gene editing, engineered cell lines, disease models, and related research solutions.
History
Horizon Discovery developed as a biotechnology business centered on targeted genetic modification of cells. Its core model was to engineer human and mammalian cell lines so that they contained defined genetic changes, and then make those cells useful as standardized systems for biomedical research. Rather than treating gene editing only as a laboratory technique, Horizon connected the editing process to a product and applications business involving engineered cell lines, disease models, reagents, and diagnostic materials. The company’s technology addresses a recurring problem in drug discovery: researchers need experimental models that reproduce relevant genetic features of human disease while remaining sufficiently controlled for comparison. Horizon’s engineered cells can be used to introduce disease-associated mutations, repair or alter specific sequences, and compare a modified cell with a genetically matched control. These paired systems help researchers examine the biological consequences of individual mutations and evaluate whether a candidate medicine behaves differently across genetic backgrounds. This approach supports several stages of the biomedical development process. At the research stage, engineered cells can help identify disease mechanisms and validate possible therapeutic targets. During drug discovery, they can be used to examine compound activity, sensitivity, and resistance. In translational work, they can contribute to the development of models that connect genetic characteristics with likely treatment response. Horizon also applied its cell-engineering capabilities to molecular diagnostics, where genetically defined materials can function as reference standards or support the development and validation of tests, including tests intended to identify patient groups likely to respond to particular treatments. The company’s portfolio has included a substantial collection of engineered cell-line pairs and related gene-editing products. Its catalogue is described as containing more than 23,000 cell-line pairs modeling mutations found in genetic diseases. The underlying concept is a “patient-in-a-test-tube” model: cells are modified to reproduce a disease-relevant genetic state, allowing researchers to investigate that state under controlled laboratory conditions. Engineered cells can also act as sources of research reagents or as platforms for developing more advanced in vivo models. Horizon pursued partnerships to broaden the technical scope of its platform. In December 2019 and January 2020, it signed agreements with Mammoth Biosciences concerning the combination of Mammoth’s CRISPR intellectual property and Horizon’s expertise in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Chinese hamster ovary cells are important in biopharmaceutical research and manufacturing, so the collaboration linked gene-editing technology with a cell system that has established relevance to biologics production and research. Horizon was publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market under the symbol HZD before its acquisition. In November 2020, PerkinElmer acquired the company in a transaction valued at approximately $383 million, equivalent to about £296 million. The acquisition moved Horizon from independent public-company ownership into PerkinElmer’s broader life-sciences operations. In May 2023, following PerkinElmer’s corporate separation, Horizon became part of Revvity, Inc. Its current identity is therefore associated with Revvity’s life-sciences activities, while its historical brand focus remains gene editing, cell engineering, disease modeling, and molecular diagnostics.
- 2023
Transition into Revvity
[1]Horizon became part of Revvity, Inc. after the separation of PerkinElmer’s businesses.
- 2020
Further Mammoth Biosciences agreement
[1]A second agreement with Mammoth Biosciences extended the companies’ work on combining CRISPR technology and Horizon’s engineered-cell capabilities.
- 2020
Acquisition by PerkinElmer
[1]PerkinElmer acquired Horizon Discovery for approximately $383 million, or £296 million.
- 2019
CRISPR collaboration with Mammoth Biosciences
[1]Horizon entered an agreement with Mammoth Biosciences to combine Mammoth’s CRISPR intellectual property with Horizon’s expertise in Chinese hamster ovary cells.
Products and positioning
A specialist biotechnology platform that translates precise gene editing and cell engineering into disease models, research reagents, drug-development tools, and diagnostic applications.
Gene editing
Gene-editing tools
Horizon’s gene-editing tools are intended to enable targeted changes in human and mammalian cells. They support research workflows in which investigators introduce, repair, or otherwise modify defined genetic sequences to study gene function, model disease-associated mutations, and assess the effect of candidate treatments in controlled cellular systems.
Cell engineering
Engineered cell lines
Engineered cell lines form one of Horizon’s principal product categories. The company creates cells carrying defined genetic alterations and, where useful, matched control lines. These materials allow researchers to compare otherwise similar cells with different genetic states when studying disease biology, drug response, treatment resistance, and potential therapeutic mechanisms.
Biomedical research models
Disease models
Horizon’s genetically modified cells can be used as laboratory models of human disease. By reproducing mutations believed to drive or influence disease, the models provide systems for investigating genetic mechanisms and testing medicines or cell therapies before clinical evaluation. The company has described its portfolio as including more than 23,000 engineered cell-line pairs.
Molecular diagnostics
Molecular diagnostic reference materials
Genetically defined cells and related materials can be used as reference standards in molecular diagnostic research and development. They may help developers create, calibrate, and validate assays designed to detect genetic alterations or predict how patients may respond to specific treatments.
Biotechnology services
Cell-engineering services
Horizon applies its gene-editing and cell-engineering capabilities through research and development services. These services are intended for organizations that need customized genetically modified cells, disease-relevant experimental systems, or specialized support for drug-discovery and translational programs.
Brand decisions
2023
Transfer into Revvity’s life-sciences portfolioStrategyBackground
PerkinElmer separated its businesses, creating Revvity as the home for relevant health-sciences and life-sciences operations.
Action taken
Horizon Discovery became part of Revvity, Inc. in May 2023.
Aftermath
The Horizon business continued within a larger life-sciences group rather than returning to independent ownership.
2020
Acceptance of PerkinElmer acquisitionM&ABackground
Horizon was an AIM-listed gene-editing and cell-engineering company serving research, drug-development, and diagnostic applications. PerkinElmer sought to add these capabilities to its life-sciences portfolio.
Action taken
PerkinElmer acquired Horizon Discovery in a transaction reported at approximately $383 million, or £296 million.
Aftermath
Horizon ceased to operate as an independent publicly traded company and became part of PerkinElmer’s life-sciences activities. Following PerkinElmer’s later separation, the business became part of Revvity in 2023.
Acquisition value. $383 million (£296 million) transaction value (November 2020)
Recent events
Horizon and Envigo announce research-model collaboration[2]
Reported:
Horizon and Envigo announced an intention to collaborate to maintain continuity and enable customers to access CRISPR-edited research models for screening and other applications.
Horizon agrees to divest animal models business to Envigo[2]
Reported:
Horizon Discovery agreed to transfer its animal research models business unit, including assets and employees, to Envigo. The agreement was expected to close within 30–45 days, subject to customary closing conditions.
Sources2 sources
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