OMT Presents Breakthrough In Novel Human Antibody Platform Development

Open Monoclonal Technology (OMT), in collaboration with Sangamo BioSciences, Sigma-Aldrich, Medical College of Wisconsin, and INSERM, has created the first targeted knockout rats as detailed in Knockout Rats Produced via Embryo Microinjection of Designed Zinc Finger Nucleases.

The creation of rats with permanent, heritable genetic mutations is a critical milestone in the development of OMT’s novel human monoclonal antibody platform, said the company.

Roland Buelow, CEO of OMT, said: Creating a knockout rat was the biggest challenge OMT faced. Inactivation of endogenous rat antibody expression is essential for human antibody expression in genetically engineered animals. To solve this problem, we explored a new application for Zinc Finger Nuclease (ZFN) technology, which enabled a technique that could revolutionize the genetic engineering of animals.