PsychoGenics Inc. Obtains A License To The McGill Universityl-R-Thy1-APP Rat Model Of Alzheimer’s Disease

TARRYTOWN, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PsychoGenics announced today that it has obtained a license from McGill University (Montreal/Canada) to its McGill-R-Thy1-APP rat model of Alzheimer’s disease, expressing human APP with the Swedish (K670N/M671L) and Indiana (V717F) mutations under the control of the murine-Thy-1 promoter.

“Using our extensive experience in behavioral testing platforms and the full range of services in electrophysiology, brain biochemistry and brain immunohistochemistry, will allow us to collect important information about new treatments with high translational value.”

This rat model, developed by Prof. A. Claudio Cuello and his team at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, has a single insertion of the hAPP transgene, thereby making it more translatable to the human situation as compared to most of the mouse models which exhibit extremely high overexpression of mutant hAPP (Do Carmo and Cuello, Mol. Neurodeger. 2013). The rats display amyloid pathology with plaques appearing after 6/7 months and cognitive/behavioral deficits emerging at the pre-plaque stage (Leon et al, JAD, 2010, Iulita et al, Acta Neuropathol Commun, 2014). A specific feature of this rat model is the early pre-plaque neuroinflammation manifestation associated with massive astro- and micro-glia activation in the brain accompanied by increased expression of classical inflammatory markers such as COX-2, IL-1ß and TNF-a, which recapitulates Alzheimer’s disease (Hanzel et al. Neurobiol Aging 2014). This model also exhibits early synaptic long-term potentiation disruption (Qi et al, Acta Neuropathol Commun, 2015), as well as, overall brain and hippocampal shrinkage and reduced glucose utilization in prefrontal cortex which are other hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease.

“We are very excited to add the McGill-R-Thy1-APP rat to our portfolio of Alzheimer’s models which include the APP/PS1 model from the University of South Florida and the rTg4510 Tauopathy model from the Mayo Clinic. The McGill-R-Thy1-APP rat model with its early behavioral and inflammatory phenotype offers further interesting drug discovery opportunities for our clients,” remarked Dr. Emer Leahy, President and CEO of PsychoGenics. “Using our extensive experience in behavioral testing platforms and the full range of services in electrophysiology, brain biochemistry and brain immunohistochemistry, will allow us to collect important information about new treatments with high translational value.”

“This agreement with PsychoGenics means that our McGill-R-Thy1-APP rat model of Alzheimer’s disease is now broadly available to Pharma and Biotech, providing a valuable tool in the quest for novel treatments for this devastating neurodegenerative disease. We look forward to PsychoGenics’ further characterization of the model using its proprietary behavioral testing platforms and other capabilities,” commented Dr. A. Claudio Cuello.

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 and dendritic spine analysis. In addition, the company offers a variety of in-licensed transgenic mouse models that support research in areas such as Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Autism spectrum disorders, psychosis/schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), Muscular Dystrophy and other muscle disorders. For more information on PsychoGenics Inc. visit www.psychogenics.com.

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