AZ collecting 2 million genomes
AstraZeneca plc (LSE:AZN; NYSE:AZN) will collaborate with Human Longevity Inc. (San Diego, Calif.), Genomics England Ltd. (London, U.K.) and several academic organizations to collect 2 million genomes over 10 years using next-generation sequencing as part of AZ's effort to more widely integrate genomics into its drug development programs.
AZ is launching an internal genomics research center in Cambridge, U.K., to combine data from past and future trials with associated phenotype information such as response to drug candidates. Human Longevity will sequence and analyze up to 500,000 samples from AZ's own trials. In return, AZ will receive access to Human Longevity's database of integrated genomic, clinical, molecular and health record data, which is designed to have 1 million patient records by 2020. AZ also intends to source another 500,000 genomes from other partners and the public domain. ...