US-based Taconic Biosciences, a leading provider of genetically modified solutions to researchers worldwide, announced a new agreement and the expansion of an existing agreement that together will improve access to lab animal models for researchers in Japan.

These moves build on the collaborative efforts that Taconic has already had in place with Japan-based Micell Trading Corporation and CLEA Japan Inc., both of which are designed to enhance investigators' ability to obtain the advanced, high-quality lab animals that are crucial to drug discovery.

Taconic continues to see strong and increasing demand for quality lab rodent models in the Asia Pacific region, particularly genetically modified models. With this new and expanded agreement, Taconic will reinforce the company's long-standing relationships with partners in Japan and can help to bring critical tools to the Japanese biomedical research community and accelerate drug discovery.

Under the new agreement with Micell Trading Corporation, the provider will distribute a wide range of Taconic genetically engineered models and services in Japan, including the unique Taconic Transgenic Models (TTM) portfolio of more than 60 transgenic rat and mouse models available off-the-shelf.

Micell Trading Corporation also has the rights to distribute Taconic's Emerging Models portfolio of researcher-sponsored models, and the Knockout Mouse Repository of over 4,000 genetically modified mouse lines.

An expanded agreement with CLEA Japan will enable the provider to breed select Taconic mouse and rat models at its production facility in Japan to facilitate faster availability and delivery of these models in the region. CLEA Japan will adhere to the same standard practices for health, genetic and phenotype monitoring as Taconic does, assuring consistency of these Taconic animals whether they are produced at breeding sites in Japan, North America or Europe.