Taconic, a leading provider of life sciences solutions to researchers worldwide, has signed a distribution agreement with Bio-Medical Science Co, Ltd (BMS) of Seoul, Korea for the purpose of providing life science researchers in Korea with improved access to the rodent models and associated services that are vital to their work.

Taconic's laboratory research rodents and supporting scientific services will be promoted and distributed in Korea through Daehan Biolink (DBL) Co, Ltd., a BMS subsidiary that focuses on the breeding of laboratory research rodents and the manufacture of equipment for laboratory animals. The first company to produce SPF (Specific Pathogen Free) animals in Korea, DBL provides animal breeding and health and genetic monitoring services for researchers in academia, bio-ventures, medical research hospitals and universities, pharmaceutical companies and government organizations.

"Taconic is strongly committed to providing our customers throughout the world with ease of access to our advanced scientific tools," said Kevin Leak, senior vice president of Client Relations for Taconic. "Corporations, academia and the government in Korea are making significant investments in in vivo scientific research. The time is right for Taconic to expand our presence in Korea and DBL provides a strong fit with Taconic, as both of our organizations focus on delivering quality life sciences products and services that advance the critical work of the biomedical research community."

"We are very excited to work with Taconic which is a world best in vivo technology company. We see partnership with Taconic will greatly contribute science in Korea to leap into world-class level," said Sun K Kim, president of Bio-Medial Science.

DBL will distribute a wide range of Taconic products and services, including models from the Taconic Transgenic Models programme and a repository of more than 3,000 knockout mouse models. DBL will also promote to its customers the advanced custom model generation and phenotyping services of Taconic, that employ sophisticated technologies to greatly reduce model generation and characterization lead times and ensure faster access to unique models. DBL projects double-digit sales growth in 2010, fueled by the rapid growth in demand for transgenic rodent models.

The journal PharmaFocus Asia recently projected Asia to become the world's largest pharmaceutical market, with many companies desiring to site research and development (R&D) or pre-clinical trial activity in the region. The article cited a trend toward globalization of both the pharmaceutical market and the R&D function, with a growing share of both migrating to Asian countries.

Founded in 1988, Bio-Medical Science Co, Ltd provides life sciences research products and diagnostic products through five companies and three facilities in Seoul and Daejeon, Korea.

Taconic is a leading provider of life sciences solutions to researchers worldwide, offering innovative lab animal models and scientific services that facilitate in vivo studies and advance drug discovery.