Charles River launches first CRISPR-generated immunodeficient model

02-Apr-2017 - Last updated on 03-Apr-2017 at 16:42 GMT

The NCG model was developed using CRISPR gene editing technology. (Image: Charles River Laboratories)

Charles River Laboratories has launched a triple-immunodeficient mouse model – a humanized mouse model, the likes of which are “the future of oncology research,” says CRO.

The early-stage contract research organization (CRO) announced the new offering – the NCG model – today, at the 2017 AACR Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.

According to the company, the NCG model was developed by altering the Prkdc and Il2rg genes and is the company’s first CRISPR-generated immunodeficient model offering.

Charles River previously announced its “end-to-end” service offering of CRISPR/Cas9 genome engineering technology, including custom in vivo and in vitro genome editing, in December 2016.

At the time, the VP of Global Research Models and Services at the company, Iva Morse, told us the technology would enable the company to develop more translational research models that ultimately improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the drug discovery process.

“Humanized mouse models are the future of oncology research. In cancer research, translatability is a constant concern,” Aidan Synnott, Executive Director, Discovery Oncology, told Outsourcing-Pharma.com.

“A model that more closely mirrors human immune systems allows us to conduct groundbreaking studies more efficiently and effectively, with the ultimate goal of developing more translational therapies."

The Nanjing Biomedical Research Institute of Nanjing University and Nanjing Galaxy Biopharma developed the model before it was transferred to Charles River in 2016.