HSA Transgenic Animal Models will be invaluable in drug toxicity, drug pharmacokinetics and drug efficacy studies

HSA Transgenic Mouse Patent and Developing Model

The HSA transgenic mouse model is a logical outgrowth of the Company's extensive research and development work on albumin. In September 2005, New Century was awarded a U.S. patent on a transgenic mouse with human serum albumin replacing the mouse's own serum albumin as the major circulatory protein.

Due to interspecies differences, animal studies involving drug safety and efficacy often do not correlate well with results in humans. However, with an HSA transgenic mouse model, the albumin-affected drug pharmacokinetics, distribution, and toxicity will be identical to that of humans. Since these albumin interactions are species dependent, the availability of a mouse model that contains and expresses the human gene for the protein, as described by the issuing patent, together with the knowledge of the atomic interactions, should provide collaborating partners and licensees with highly valuable and predictive tools for future drug evaluation, ultimately leading to more rapid development and safer more efficacious pharmaceuticals.