Charles River and Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals: Joint Venture

By Andrea: http://nursingoncologyjob.com

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (CRL), a drug development company, has entered into an exclusive, long-term marketing and distribution agreement with Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.

Under this agreement, Charles River has become the exclusive, global provider for Transposagen's p53 and Bcrp TGEM Knockout Rat Models and associated downstream services utilizing these models. The companies have also agreed to a R&D collaboration, whereas scientific management from both companies will hold technical discussions and cooperatively work towards the creation of select, new genetically modified rat models.

The exclusive license for these two research model lines expands Charles River's portfolio of research models and services to offer knockout rat models, an emerging tool in drug discovery and development research, to its pharmaceutical, biotechnology, academic and government clients, the company said.

Transposagen's TGEM model, the p53 TGEM Knockout Rat Model, is expected to be a valuable tool in oncology research as it is believed that the Tp53 gene (tumor protein 53) is the most commonly mutated gene in human cancers. The p53 TGEM Knockout Rat Model is also the only fully phenotyped p53 knockout rat model commercially available, the company added.

Iva Morse, corporate vice president of global research model services at Charles River, said: "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 become widely accepted for research in oncology and other therapeutic areas."