Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals, a provider of genetically modified laboratory rats, has entered into a global marketing and distribution agreement with Taconic, an animal model and service provider, in which Taconic will market and distribute Transposagen’s animal models.

Transposagen has exclusive worldwide rights to create TKO Knockout Rat Models using a variety of mobile DNA technologies. Knockout rat research models have a single gene disruption that mimics human diseases. There are currently 100 different knockout rat lines available; Transposagen’s goal is to create 30,000 unique TKO Knockout Rat Models, one corresponding to each gene in the rat genome.

“We believe there will be strong demand for Transposagen’s TKO products by our pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers in support of their focus on the discovery of new therapies,” said Kevin Leak, senior vice president, client relations, Taconic. “Transposagen’s mobile DNA technology is a breakthrough discovery that has led to the efficient development of a significant number of knockout rat lines that could be used as translational models that mimic human diseases.”

“Taconic’s outstanding expertise and reputation as a leading animal model and services company will help us to provide our TKO Knockout Rat Models to researchers globally,” said Dr. Eric Ostertag, chief executive officer of Transposagen.“More importantly, improving researcher’s access to our animal models will ultimately lead to better therapeutic treatments to those diagnosed with diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and hypertension.”