By Ben Hirschler CAMBRIDGE, England (Reuters) – AstraZeneca, working with genome pioneer Craig Venter, is launching a massive gene hunt in the most comprehensive bet yet by a pharmaceutical firm on the potential of genetic variations to unlock routes to new medicines. The initiative, announced on Friday, involves sequencing up to 2 million human genomes – the complete set of genetic code that acts as the software of life – including 500,000 DNA samples collected by AstraZeneca in global clinical trials. Financial details of the 10-year project were not disclosed but Mene Pangalos, head of early drug development, said the company would be investing “hundreds of millions of dollars”.
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AstraZeneca taps gene pioneer Venter for huge drug-hunting sweep
