Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. Creates a Rat Model of the Human Immune System SCID Rat Seen as Superior Cancer and Transplantation Model
LEXINGTON, Ky., Aug. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. based in Lexington, KY announced today that its scientists and collaborators from the Medical College of Wisconsin have created and characterized the world's first rat model of severe combined immunodeficiency, or SCID. The Transposagen rat has a nearly complete lack of the major components of the immune system. Transposagen will be marketing SCID rats to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. "Transposagen is pleased to have characterized the world's first rat model of SCID. We now have intellectual property covering the SCID phenotype in rat and will be offering the SCID rat and other rat models of the immune system in the near future," said Dr. Eric Ostertag, CEO of Transposagen.
Rat models are superior to mouse models for testing the pharmacodynamics and toxicity of potential therapeutic compounds. This is partially because the number and type of many of the rat's detoxifying enzymes are very similar to those in humans. Rats are also better models than mice for specific disease categories including human cardiovascular disease, diabetes, arthritis, and many autoimmune, neurological and behavioral disorders.
About Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals:
Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., a Lexington, KY based company, is the worldwide leader in the creation of unique genetically modified rat models. These models mimic human diseases and are used for drug discovery and development research. The production of animal models for research is a $1.2 billion/year market and the genetically modified animal market is expected to grow 12% annually through 2012. For more information, visit www.transposagenbio.com.
SOURCE Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
CONTACT: George Ward, Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.,
+1-859-428-8561, gward@transposagenbio.com
Web site: http://www.transposagenbio.com/