CAMBRIDGE, U.K.—Horizon Discovery Group plc and Ventana Medical Systems Inc., a member of the Roche Group, joined forces in a co-development and commercialization agreement in early September. The agreement will cover the development, manufacture and commercialization of cell line derivative materials for use as immunohistochemistry (IHC) reference standards in cancer tissue diagnostics to support development and validation of IHC assays. Per the agreement, Ventana has an option to commission projects from Horizon, with Horizon developing applicable cell lines and associated derivative reference standard materials. Horizon will be primarily responsible for commercializing the reference standards and will serve as primary distribution channel. Ventana will have the option to co-distribute any developed reference standards.