Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (Transposagen), the worldwide leader in genetically modified rats, has announced that it has entered into an exclusive marketing and distribution agreement with Charles River Laboratories, a leading global provider of research models and services.

The license includes two of Transposagen’s high-value TGEM Knockout Rat Models, one rat line contains a mutation in the p53 gene, the most studied tumour suppressor, and one rat line contains a mutation in the Bcrp gene, encoding an important drug transporter. The p53 gene is the gene most commonly mutated in many human cancers. The p53 TGEM Knockout Rat Model recapitulates human cancers and is the only fully phenotyped p53 knockout rat model, now available with complete tumour spectrum and survival data.

“Our p53 and Bcrp TGEM Knockout Rat Models, developed with our academic collaborators at the Hubrecht Institute in the Netherlands, are the first of their kind in the world,” said Dr Eric Ostertag, the president and CEO of Transposagen. “For the p53 TGEM Knockout Rat Model in particular, we have years of phenotyping data showing that this research model faithfully produces a wide variety of tumours. Add this to the outstanding breeding standards and quality control offered by our partner, Charles River Laboratories, and customers can be certain that they are getting a quality research model.”

These two unique TGEM Knockout Rat Models will enhance Charles River’s ability to provide its global clients with unique solutions in the drug development process from target validation to toxicology and carcinogenicity testing. Dr Iva Morse, corporate vice president, Global Research Model Services at Charles River, commented, “Charles River is extremely pleased to offer knockout rat models to our clients for the first time by partnering with Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals, a leader in the creation of genetically modified rat models.  Knockout rat models are a new and emerging tool in drug discovery and development, and Transposagen’s p53 and BCRP TGEM Knockout Rat Models are expected to quickly become widely accepted for research in oncology and other therapeutic areas.”

Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., a Lexington, KY based company, is the worldwide leader in the creation of unique genetically modified rat models.  The company’s signature products, TKO Knockout Rat Models and TGEM Rat Models, mimic human diseases and are used for drug discovery and development research.