Hudson, New York — March 20, 2014 - Taconic and In Vitro ADMET Laboratories, LLC (IVAL) announced an agreement today under which IVAL will prepare cryopreserved hepatocytes derived from Taconic’s knockout and genetically humanized mouse models for use in preclinical drug development research. The resulting plateable cryopreserved hepatocytes will be a commercial product available from either company.
Using hepatocytes from Taconic’s translational mouse models, researchers can leverage in vitro assays to facilitate experimental design and data analysis of in vivo transgenic animal studies. The transgenic hepatocytes can also be used to conduct targeted in vitro investigations to assess the contribution of specific proteins toward the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADME-Tox) characteristics of new compounds. Examples of the key proteins are drug transporters and drug metabolizing enzymes.
Cryopreserved hepatocytes are considered the “gold standard” for critical experiments in drug development including drug metabolism, drug-drug interactions, toxicity assessment and most recently, drug-transporter interactions. IVAL has extensive experience in isolating and cryopreserving human and animal hepatocytes, and the company’s proprietary cryopreservation procedures successfully preserve many of the attributes of fresh hepatocytes that are often lost during the cryopreservation process.
Todd Little, Taconic President and CEO, comments on the importance of the new agreement with IVAL: "The collaboration agreement with IVAL is Taconic’s most recent step to expand its tADMET™ portfolio, a unique collection of in vivo and in vitro tools applied in preclinical DMPK and safety testing. The commercial supply of hepatocytes derived from Taconic’s proprietary genetically-engineered tADMET™ mouse models is an ideal complement to our toolbox of genetic and tissue humanized rodent models. Combining Taconic’s unique position in the field of genetically-engineered rodents and IVAL’s long-standing expertise with producing high-quality hepatocytes will empower our clients to select the most appropriate in vivo models and in vitro tools for preclinical drug development and testing."
"We are extremely enthusiastic about this alliance that leverages the unparalleled hepatocyte technologies of IVAL and the world’s leading transgenic technologies of Taconic," states Dr. Albert P. Li, President and CEO of In Vitro ADMET Laboratories, LLC. "The transgenic hepatocytes will complement our current portfolio of hepatocyte products and greatly facilitate scientific research, especially in drug discovery and development."
About Taconic:
Taconic is a global provider of genetically engineered mouse and rat models and services. As a full-service industry leader, founded in 1952, Taconic helps clients acquire, custom generate, breed, test, prepare, and distribute highly relevant research lines worldwide. Headquartered in New York's Hudson River Valley, Taconic operates six breeding facilities and three service laboratories in the U.S. and Europe. The company employs over 850 employees committed to technological innovation. Taconic's products and services are used by over 1,300 companies and academic research institutions in nearly 50 nations worldwide.
About IVAL:
In Vitro ADMET Laboratories, LLC, a Complete Hepatocyte Solutions™ Company, is the world’s leader in hepatocyte technologies. IVAL was founded in 2004 by Dr. Albert P. Li, a world-renowned scientist and pioneer of hepatocyte cryopreservation and the application of hepatocytes in drug development. IVAL specializes in hepatocyte related products and services. IVAL’s high quality human and animal hepatocytes, especially plateable cryopreserved hepatocytes, are used internationally by the pharmaceutical industry and academic institutions. IVAL headquarters in Columbia, Maryland and has recently added the IVAL Hepatocyte Technology Center, Malden, Massachusetts to serve pharmaceutical companies in the Boston vicinity.
Using hepatocytes from Taconic’s translational mouse models, researchers can leverage in vitro assays to facilitate experimental design and data analysis of in vivo transgenic animal studies. The transgenic hepatocytes can also be used to conduct targeted in vitro investigations to assess the contribution of specific proteins toward the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADME-Tox) characteristics of new compounds. Examples of the key proteins are drug transporters and drug metabolizing enzymes.
Cryopreserved hepatocytes are considered the “gold standard” for critical experiments in drug development including drug metabolism, drug-drug interactions, toxicity assessment and most recently, drug-transporter interactions. IVAL has extensive experience in isolating and cryopreserving human and animal hepatocytes, and the company’s proprietary cryopreservation procedures successfully preserve many of the attributes of fresh hepatocytes that are often lost during the cryopreservation process.
Todd Little, Taconic President and CEO, comments on the importance of the new agreement with IVAL: "The collaboration agreement with IVAL is Taconic’s most recent step to expand its tADMET™ portfolio, a unique collection of in vivo and in vitro tools applied in preclinical DMPK and safety testing. The commercial supply of hepatocytes derived from Taconic’s proprietary genetically-engineered tADMET™ mouse models is an ideal complement to our toolbox of genetic and tissue humanized rodent models. Combining Taconic’s unique position in the field of genetically-engineered rodents and IVAL’s long-standing expertise with producing high-quality hepatocytes will empower our clients to select the most appropriate in vivo models and in vitro tools for preclinical drug development and testing."
"We are extremely enthusiastic about this alliance that leverages the unparalleled hepatocyte technologies of IVAL and the world’s leading transgenic technologies of Taconic," states Dr. Albert P. Li, President and CEO of In Vitro ADMET Laboratories, LLC. "The transgenic hepatocytes will complement our current portfolio of hepatocyte products and greatly facilitate scientific research, especially in drug discovery and development."
About Taconic:
Taconic is a global provider of genetically engineered mouse and rat models and services. As a full-service industry leader, founded in 1952, Taconic helps clients acquire, custom generate, breed, test, prepare, and distribute highly relevant research lines worldwide. Headquartered in New York's Hudson River Valley, Taconic operates six breeding facilities and three service laboratories in the U.S. and Europe. The company employs over 850 employees committed to technological innovation. Taconic's products and services are used by over 1,300 companies and academic research institutions in nearly 50 nations worldwide.
About IVAL:
In Vitro ADMET Laboratories, LLC, a Complete Hepatocyte Solutions™ Company, is the world’s leader in hepatocyte technologies. IVAL was founded in 2004 by Dr. Albert P. Li, a world-renowned scientist and pioneer of hepatocyte cryopreservation and the application of hepatocytes in drug development. IVAL specializes in hepatocyte related products and services. IVAL’s high quality human and animal hepatocytes, especially plateable cryopreserved hepatocytes, are used internationally by the pharmaceutical industry and academic institutions. IVAL headquarters in Columbia, Maryland and has recently added the IVAL Hepatocyte Technology Center, Malden, Massachusetts to serve pharmaceutical companies in the Boston vicinity.