What COSMIC does

COSMIC (Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer) is the world's largest and most comprehensive expert-curated knowledgebase for somatic mutations in human cancer, founded in 2004 by Professor Sir Mike Stratton and Professor Andy Futreal at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and operated by Genome Research Limited, a UK-registered charity. The platform aggregates curated mutation data from sources including the ICGC/TCGA Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes network (23,000+ patients), Genomics England (10,731 whole-genome sequenced samples for SV signatures), TCGA (9,873 copy number profiles), the TRACERx cohort (333 NSCLC tumours for RNA SBS signatures), and experimental studies across five species (3,900+ samples, 515 studies, 140 treatments). Its core product is the COSMIC database, augmented by specialised modules — Cell Lines, COSMIC-3D, Cancer Gene Census, Cancer Mutation Census, Actionability, and Mutational Signatures — and an integrated bioinformatics tool ecosystem including the SigProfiler suite (developed with the Alexandrov Lab at UC San Diego), Cancer Browser, Genome Browser, CONAN, and GA4GH Beacon API. Data is offered in VCF, MAF, and ICGC formats and is restricted to research use only, with explicit prohibition on AI training without consent.

The platform operates a dual-track go-to-market: academic and not-for-profit users access the COSMIC web platform and download data directly from Genome Research Limited at no cost under a non-exclusive royalty-free licence, while all commercial and for-profit data downloads are routed exclusively through QIAGEN's Digital Insights (QDI) Portal under paid commercial licences with multi-year contract terms. Pricing for commercial use is not publicly disclosed. The company serves three primary segments — academic research institutions, commercial pharmaceutical/biotech/diagnostic organisations, and not-for-profit healthcare organisations — but does not disclose revenue, headcount beyond the 11–50 employee band, or named enterprise customers. Distribution relies on content marketing (blog, newsletter, scientific publications), organic social channels (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn), and the QIAGEN channel partnership for commercial monetisation. COSMIC holds registered trademarks on the COSMIC and COSMIC-3D brands and the SigProfiler tool suite, and operates in compliance with the UK Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR.

Name

COSMIC

Legal name

Genome Research Limited

Website

https://cancer.sanger.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

COSMIC is a charity-operated, expert-curated knowledgebase of somatic mutations in human cancer, serving academic researchers (free access) and commercial pharma/biotech users (via QIAGEN licensing) with the world's largest catalogue of cancer mutation data and integrated bioinformatics tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cancer Genomics Database and Bioinformatics Platform

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Bioinformatics & Multi-omics Analysis Software (HLAGAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Knowledge Management & Scientific Collaboration / Literature Intelligence (HLAGAJAN), Bioinformatics, Multi-Omics Data Analysis & Interpretation Services (HLAGANAI), Molecular Tumor Boards & Clinical Interpretation Services (HLAAANAD)

Keywords

• Cancer genomics database
• Somatic mutation analysis
• Mutational signatures research
• Cancer bioinformatics tools
• Genomic data curation

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Academic Licensing: Non-exclusive, royalty-free licensing for academic/not-for-profit use. Academic users receive free access to the COSMIC Web Platform and data downloads through GRL Download Sites.
2. Commercial Licensing via QIAGEN: Commercial/for-profit organizations must obtain a Commercial Licence through QIAGEN's digital insights portal. Data downloads for commercial use are exclusively provided through QIAGEN's QDI Portal. Includes Commercial Trial Licence options for time-limited evaluation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

COSMIC is the world's largest and most comprehensive expert-curated database of somatic mutations in human cancer, offering integrated modules (Mutational Signatures, COSMIC-3D, Cell Lines, Gene Census, Cancer Mutation Census, Actionability) along with a suite of bioinformatics analysis tools (SigProfiler, Cancer Browser, Genome Browser, CONAN). The platform is free for academic/not-for-profit users through self-service registration, while commercial organizations obtain licensed data downloads exclusively through QIAGEN's commercial distribution portal. Data is curated and maintained by Genome Research Limited at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and is designated for research use only.

Product overview

COSMIC (Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer) is a comprehensive knowledgebase and research platform developed and owned by Genome Research Limited (Wellcome Sanger Institute). The core COSMIC database is the world's largest resource for exploring somatic mutations in human cancer, supported by specialized modules including Cell Lines, COSMIC-3D, Cancer Gene Census, Cancer Mutation Census, Actionability, and Mutational Signatures. The platform offers multiple analysis tools including SigProfilerAssignment, Genome Browser, Cancer Browser, and CONAN. Commercial data access is provided through QIAGEN's digital insights portal, while academic users access data directly from Sanger. The platform provides both web-based tools and downloadable data files.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• COSMIC Mutational Signatures: A resource for exploring mutational signatures in human cancer, including SBS, DBS, ID, CN, and SV signatures. Current version 3.6 (May 2026).
• COSMIC-3D
• COSMIC Cell Lines
• Cancer Mutation Census (CMC)
• COSMIC Actionability
• Cancer Gene Census

Products and services

• COSMIC (Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer) The core, world-leading expert-curated database of somatic mutations in human cancer, integrating multiple variant classes (SBS, DBS, ID, CN, SV) and supporting both GRCh37 and GRCh38 genome builds. Built and maintained by Genome Research Limited at the Wellcome Sanger Institute for academic researchers, commercial R&D, and clinical interpretation pipelines.
• COSMIC Mutational Signatures Comprehensive catalogue of mutational signatures across human cancer, including SBS (Single Base Substitutions), DBS (Double Base Substitutions), ID (Insertions/Deletions), CN (Copy Number), SV (Structural Variants), and RNA SBS signatures with detailed metadata on proposed aetiologies, tissue distributions, and associations.
• COSMIC-3D Interactive three-dimensional visualization and analysis module for exploring cancer mutations in a 3D genomic context, enabling structural exploration of cancer-associated mutations and protein-level impacts.
• COSMIC Cell Lines Comprehensive database of cancer cell line mutations and genomic data, enabling researchers to explore mutation profiles in widely used cancer cell line models.
• Cancer Gene Census Curated census of genes with documented roles in cancer causation and progression, providing expert-assigned gene-level cancer relevance.
• Cancer Mutation Census (CMC) Census of cancer-associated mutations with statistical ranking of mutation significance across cancer types, enabling prioritization of high-impact mutations.
• COSMIC Actionability Module linking curated cancer mutations to potential therapeutic targets, supporting evidence-based drug discovery and clinical interpretation workflows.
• COSMIC Experimental Signatures Collection of mutational signatures derived from experimental exposure studies across five species (Homo sapiens, Mus musculus, Rattus norvegicus, Caenorhabditis elegans, Gallus gallus), enabling mechanistic interpretation of observed human cancer signatures.
• SigProfiler Tools Suite Integrated bioinformatics tools suite (SigProfilerMatrixGenerator, SigProfilerPlotting, SigProfilerSimulator, SigProfilerClusters, SigProfilerExtractor, SigProfilerAssignment, SigProfilerTopography) for mutational signature analysis, developed in collaboration with the Alexandrov Lab at UC San Diego.
• SigProfilerAssignment Web-based tool for assigning known mutational signatures to individual sequenced cancer samples using a forward stagewise algorithm and non-negative least squares, developed by the Alexandrov Lab at UC San Diego.
• CONAN Copy number analysis tool for examining copy number variations in cancer samples, allowing researchers to interrogate focal and arm-level copy number events.
• GA4GH Beacon Standardized GA4GH Beacon API endpoint at cancer.sanger.ac.uk/cosmic/beacon enabling federated genomic data queries against COSMIC somatic mutations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trusted by researchers worldwide as the primary reference for cancer somatic mutations

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• QIAGENcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorQIAGEN serves as COSMIC's exclusive commercial distribution partner. Commercial users access COSMIC data downloads exclusively through QIAGEN's Digital Insights (QDI) Portal. This partnership enables Genome Research Limited to focus on curation while QIAGEN handles commercial licensing, distribution, and customer support for for-profit organizations.
• Cancer Grand ChallengescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOSMIC Mutational Signatures is curated in partnership with Cancer Grand Challenges and the Mutographs team. This collaboration supports large-scale cancer research initiatives and ensures comprehensive signature curation across international datasets.
• Wellcome Sanger InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOSMIC is developed and owned by Genome Research Limited, operating as the Wellcome Sanger Institute. The Institute provides institutional support, infrastructure, and research expertise for COSMIC's ongoing development and curation activities.
• Alexandrov Lab (UC San Diego)coreTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration with the Alexandrov Lab at University of California San Diego for SigProfiler bioinformatics tools development. SigProfiler tools are integral to mutational signature extraction and analysis in COSMIC.
• Pillay Lab (University College London)supportingTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration with the Pillay Lab at University College London for mutational signature research and curation support.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Broad incumbents

• Tempus: AI-enabled precision medicine company with a large proprietary clinical and molecular database used for oncology research and treatment selection. Comparable in providing curated cancer genomics data assets, with a stronger commercial/clinical orientation than COSMIC.
• QIAGEN Digital Insights (Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, QCI): QIAGEN's bioinformatics portfolio, which is both COSMIC's exclusive commercial distribution partner and a broader competitor in genomics interpretation software (IPA, QCI Interpret, HGMD). Comparable as the commercial pathway by which COSMIC reaches enterprise pharma and diagnostic customers, and as a competing interpretation platform.
• NCBI ClinVar: NIH-maintained public archive of genomic variant-disease associations with supporting clinical evidence. Comparable to COSMIC as a public reference resource for variant interpretation, though broader in scope (all diseases, not cancer-specific) and aimed at clinical genetics rather than cancer research.
• ICGC / PCAWG Data Portal: International Cancer Genome Consortium and Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes data portal, a major public source of the large-scale cancer sequencing data that COSMIC draws on for signature curation. Comparable as a primary open-access cancer genomics resource addressing the same research user base.
• Foundation Medicine (FoundationOne): Roche-owned clinical cancer genomics company operating in the regulated CGP/commercial diagnostic market. Comparable as a reference for cancer mutation interpretation, though it operates in the clinical (not research) market that COSMIC is structurally excluded from, and represents the kind of company that could compete with COSMIC if regulatory barriers shift.

Emerging players

• IntOGen (Integrative Oncogenomics): Open-source, automated cancer mutation driver identification and cancer gene census resource. Comparable to COSMIC's Cancer Gene Census as a catalog of cancer-implicated genes, with a more automated, less manually curated pipeline targeting overlapping academic users.
• N-of-One (Qiagen Clinical Insight): Clinical variant interpretation service (now embedded within QIAGEN's QCI Interpret), comparable to COSMIC's Actionability Module in mapping cancer mutations to therapeutic evidence. Niche overlap on the commercial clinical interpretation side of QIAGEN's portfolio.

Direct peers

• OncoKB (Memorial Sloan Kettering): Precision oncology knowledgebase that catalogs the oncogenic effects, prevalence, and treatment implications of specific cancer gene alterations. Comparable to COSMIC's Actionability Module in linking mutations to therapeutic relevance for both research and clinical interpretation use cases.
• cBioPortal for Cancer Genomics: Memorial Sloan Kettering's open-access cancer genomics portal providing visualization, analysis, and download of large-scale cancer mutation data. Directly comparable to COSMIC as a primary cancer mutation knowledgebase, with overlapping target users in academic and translational research.
• JAX Clinical Knowledgebase (CKB): Jackson Laboratory's expert-curated knowledgebase of clinical-grade evidence linking genomic variants to therapy response, clinical trials, and disease. Directly comparable to COSMIC in its mission to curate cancer mutation-to-action insights, with overlapping user base in clinical interpretation and translational research.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cosmic_sanger
• Facebookfacebook.com/cosmic.sanger
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cosmic-sanger

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about COSMIC