May 2009 eNews - Better Models. Better Results.

The worldwide leader in the creation of unique knockout rat lines

Eric Ostertag, M.D., Ph.D. and CEO of Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. presented Transposagen’s technology and business model during the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) Business Forum on May 20, 2009. Dr. Ostertag discussed milestones being met by the company and the exciting animal models that are becoming available for the first time to academic and pharmaceutical researchers. Transposagen’s signature product is the TKO™ Knockout Rat, a laboratory rat with a single gene disruption to mimic a human disease. Over 100 unique knockout rat lines have been created to date.

TKO™ Knockout Rat Tissue Bank Being Created

Once developed, the TKO™ Tissue Bank can be used in proteomic and metabolomic studies that will offer researchers a novel tool for drug and biomarker discovery that is far more economical than current drug discovery strategies. Currently, tissue is being collected from each knockout line includes plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, small intestine, several brain samples (olfactory lobe, rostral, middle, caudal, and cerebellum), liver, kidney, skeletal muscle (quadriceps), spleen, and heart samples.

Why Rats?

While mice have proven to be a useful rodent model, a knockout rat is more relevant for many human pathologies, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, arthritis, and many autoimmune, neurological, and behavioral disorders. A rat’s physiology is more similar to humans, e.g. heart rate is 80 beats per minute. A rat’s detoxifying enzymes are also similar making rats a better toxicology model. Due to their larger size, instrumentation, blood sampling, studying nerve conduction, and performing surgeries are all easier in the rat.

Contact:
George Ward
201 W. Second St.
Lexington, KY 40507

gward@transposagenbio.com
859-428-8561