PsychoGenics Inc. Obtains A License To Another Transgenic Mouse Model Of α-Synucleinopathies

Expands the Company’s a-Synuclein Models, which also Include Line 61 and D-line

TARRYTOWN, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PsychoGenics announced that it has obtained a license from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine to another a-synuclein transgenic mouse model known as Line 1, over-expressing human wild type a-synuclein under control of the MBP-promoter in oligodendrocytes. This model is a valuable tool to research the contribution of a-synuclein in the pathogenesis of multiple system atrophy (MSA).

“The Line 1 mouse model was developed in the laboratory of Eliezer Masliah, MD, at the University of California San Diego, School of Medicine within the Department of Neurosciences (Shults et al., J. Neurosci, 25:46; 2005) and is a useful tool for the development of novel treatments for MSA”

The Line 1 a-synuclein mouse model, expresses human wild type a-synuclein under control of the MBP promoter. These mice accumulate a-synuclein, including S129-phospho-synuclein, in oligodendrocytes from 3 months of age, and display neuropathological alterations including myelin loss, astrogliosis, and behavioral/motor deficits. These deficits progressively worsen with age. The increase in a-synuclein accumulation in oligodendrocytes contributes to mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative injury, leading to neurodegeneration and recapitulates several of the key functional and neuropathological features seen in human MSA.

PsychoGenics will now offer a broad suite of services in this model to biotech and pharmaceutical companies. Using its proprietary technologies, in particular NeuroCube^®, PsychoGenics will provide a detailed analysis of the motor deficits and expects to be able to detect motor changes associated with MSA even earlier than previously reported based on its experience with other models. This would enable companies to explore prevention or early intervention treatment protocols.

“The Line 1 mouse model was developed in the laboratory of Eliezer Masliah, MD, at the University of California San Diego, School of Medicine within the Department of Neurosciences (Shults et al., J. Neurosci, 25:46; 2005) and is a useful tool for the development of novel treatments for MSA,” said Emer Leahy, PhD, President and CEO of PsychoGenics. “In combination with our technologies for assessing behavior, PsychoGenics will be able to provide research support leading to the discovery of much needed new therapeutics.”

The Line 1 license is a worldwide license, in contrast to the licenses for the Line 61 and D-line mice previously licensed from UCSD. As a clarification to our previous press release, for Line 61 PsychoGenics has the right to promote and perform services anywhere in the world except UK, Germany, France and Austria; and for the D Line PsychoGenics has the right to promote and perform services anywhere in the world except UK, Germany, France, Austria and the USA. Accordingly, PsychoGenics does not promote or perform such services in those jurisdictions or otherwise where it is not able to lawfully practice.

About PsychoGenics

PsychoGenics is a leader in in vivo phenotypic drug discovery. The company applies its proprietary technology platforms in partnership with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to discover the next generation of drugs for neuropsychiatric disorders. PsychoGenics’ capabilities also include standard behavioral testing, electrophysiology, molecular biology and state-of-the-art microdialysis. In addition, the company offers a variety of in-licensed transgenic mouse models that support research in areas such as Huntington’s disease, Autism spectrum disorders, psychosis/schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), muscular dystrophy and other muscle disorders.