Transposagen Teaming Up with Taconic for Global Distribution

LEXINGTON, Ky., Jan. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., the worldwide leader in the creation of genetically modified laboratory rats, announced today that it has entered into a global marketing and distribution agreement with Taconic, one of the largest animal model and service providers in the world.  Under the agreement, Taconic will market and distribute proprietary animal models produced by Transposagen.    

Transposagen has exclusive worldwide rights to create TKO™ Knockout Rat Models using a variety of mobile DNA technologies. Knockout rats are pharmaceutical research models with a single gene disruption that mimic human diseases. Transposagen's technology is the most cost effective method to produce knockout rats. Over 100 unique knockout rat lines are currently available and Transposagen's ultimate goal is to create 30,000 unique TKO™ Knockout Rat Models, one corresponding to each gene in the rat genome.

Taconic will market Transposagen's animals through its existing distribution channels and customer relationships and deliver the TKO™ Knockout Rat Models to pharmaceutical and biotechnology researchers around the world. "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, CEO of Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.  "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."

About Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals:

Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., a Lexington, KY based company, is the worldwide leader in the creation of unique genetically modified rat models.  The company's signature product, TKO™ Knockout Rat Models, mimic human diseases and are used for drug discovery and development research. The production of animal models is a $1.2 billion/year market and is expected to grow 12% annually through 2012. For more information, visit www.transposagenbio.com.

About Taconic:

Taconic Farms, Inc. was founded in 1952 as a family-owned business in New York's Hudson River Valley. Since then, the company has become one of the largest laboratory rodent providers in the world with a reputation for consistently producing high quality, well-defined rats and mice. Taconic's expertise in the custom design and generation of genetically modified mice, mouse and rat breeding, barrier systems, genetics and animal health supports researchers focused on drug development using in vivo models. Taconic has six breeding facilities and three service laboratories in the USA and Europe, a staff of over 1,000, and a commitment to technological innovation.

SOURCE Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.