RheoGene Grants Xenogen Biosciences A License To Develop RheoMice Transgenics

Collaboration objective to optimize and validate regulated gene and RNAi expression in customized animal research models

Norristown, PA - RheoGene, Inc. announced that it has granted a license to Xenogen Biosciences Corp. to use RheoGene's proprietary RheoSwitch System to develop and distribute RheoMice Transgenics as animal research models. The companies will also collaborate on several projects aimed at controlling delivery and regulating expression of RNAi to address the problems of timing and localization of active RNAi products to various target sites in vivo.

"We are excited about the opportunity to work with Xenogen Biosciences, a leading developer of transgenic and gene targeted animal models" said Thomas Tillett, RheoGene President and CEO. "The objective of this research collaboration is to establish and validate the RheoSwitch® technology within the transgenic mouse setting through the creation of genetically-modified animal models, RheoMice™ Transgenics which demonstrate tight, inducible gene regulation through the use of safe, non-pharmacologically active ligands".

RheoMice Transgenics are conditionally regulated animal models for functional genomics, target validation and drug development in which the timing and level of gene expression are controlled by varying the dose of a proprietary, small molecule RheoChem inducer administered to the animal through oral or intraperitoneal delivery. RheoGene has developed single vector systems that introduce the modular elements of the RheoSwitch system as well as the gene of interest in a single step for time- and cost-efficient animal research model development.

Xenogen Biosciences holds a comprehensive suite of intellectual property in the genetically modified production industry and represents a single-source solution for accessing critical intellectual property required for certain gene addition, deletion, modification and analysis (both ex vivo and in vivo via biophotonic imaging) in transgenic and gene knockout animal models. Leading pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, Inc., Eli Lilly and Co., Schering-Plough Corporation, Boehringer-Ingelheim Corporation, GlaxoSmithKline and Merck & Co. are using Xenogen Biosciences' technology.

SOURCE: RheoGene, Inc.