Charles River Laboratories has entered into an exclusive, long-term marketing and distribution agreement with Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., a KY-based provider of genetically modified rat models. Charles River will be the exclusive, global provider for Transposagen’s p53 and Bcrp TGEM Knockout Rat Models and associated downstream services. The companies have also entered a R&D collaboration under which scientific management from both companies will work towards the creation of select genetically modified rat models.

Transposagen’s p53 TGEM Knockout Rat Model is believed to be a valuable oncology research tool in that the Tp53 gene is the most commonly mutated gene in human cancers. The p53 TGEM model is also the only fully phenotyped p53 knockout rat model commercially available.

Dr. Iva Morse, corporate vice president, Global Research Model Services at Charles River, commented, “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.”