Cyagen Biosciences operates as a global biotechnology company, dedicated to providing a wide array of research services and products to the life science community. Since its founding in 2006, the company has grown to include over 900 employees across multiple facilities, including its U.S. headquarters in Santa Clara, California, and locations in Japan and China. Cyagen’s overarching mission involves accelerating biomedical research and facilitating drug discovery efforts worldwide.
Genetically Engineered Animal Models
Cyagen Biosciences is a provider of genetically engineered animal models, particularly custom-engineered mouse and rat models. These models involve altering specific genes to mimic human conditions or study gene function. Researchers use them to investigate human diseases, test new drugs, and understand gene roles in biological processes.
The company offers various models, including knockout, knock-in, transgenic, and humanized models. Knockout models involve removing or inactivating a specific gene to observe biological changes. In contrast, knock-in models insert a new gene or replace an existing one with a modified version at a precise genomic location. Transgenic models incorporate foreign DNA randomly into the animal’s genome, often to achieve overexpression.
Cyagen’s proprietary TurboKnockout® technology offers an accelerated method for creating conditional knockout, reporter knock-in, and humanized mouse models, often delivering germline-transmitting animals in as little as 6-8 months. Humanized models are useful as they involve replacing a rodent gene with its human counterpart or introducing human transgenes, making them suitable for research in immunology, cancer, and infectious diseases.
Cell-Based Research Tools
Cyagen also provides extensive offerings in cell-based research, encompassing primary cells, immortalized cell lines, and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). These cell types serve as platforms for scientific investigations. Primary cells are isolated from tissues and retain characteristics of the original tissue, valuable for initial disease modeling. Immortalized cell lines proliferate indefinitely, offering a consistent supply for long-term studies and drug screening.
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are reprogrammed from adult somatic cells and can differentiate into nearly any cell type. Cyagen’s iPSC services include high-efficiency reprogramming using non-integrating methods, ensuring genetic stability. These iPSCs undergo rigorous validation, including pluripotency and karyotype analysis, to meet research standards.
These cell-based tools are applied in drug screening, disease modeling, and regenerative medicine research. Cyagen also supports custom cell line development, allowing researchers to obtain specific cell models tailored to their experimental requirements.
Gene Editing and Vector Services
Cyagen Biosciences offers advanced gene editing and viral vector services, enabling precise manipulation of genetic material. Gene editing involves making specific, targeted changes to an organism’s DNA. A prominent technology used is CRISPR/Cas9, which allows scientists to accurately cut DNA at desired locations, facilitating gene knockout, knock-in, or point mutations. Cyagen’s optimized gene editing platform achieves high efficiency, with knockout rates up to 90% and homologous recombination (HDR) efficiency up to 50% for knock-in modifications in iPSCs.
Beyond direct gene editing, Cyagen provides comprehensive viral vector services, essential for delivering genetic material into cells or organisms. These services include packaging adeno-associated virus (AAV), lentivirus, and adenovirus. AAV vectors are commonly used for gene therapy due to their ability to infect a wide range of cell types and provide long-term gene expression. Lentiviruses are useful for stable gene integration into the host cell’s genome, suitable for cell line engineering and CAR-T cell therapy applications. By providing these sophisticated tools, Cyagen helps accelerate investigations into genetic diseases and the development of gene-based interventions.
Applications in Biomedical Research
The services and products offered by Cyagen Biosciences advance various facets of biomedical research. Their genetically engineered animal models and cell-based tools are utilized in drug discovery and development, enabling researchers to screen potential drug candidates and assess their efficacy and safety.
Understanding disease mechanisms also benefits from Cyagen’s offerings. By creating models that mimic human conditions, scientists can dissect the molecular and cellular pathways involved in disease progression. For example, knockout and humanized mouse models provide platforms to study complex genetic interactions and disease phenotypes, offering insights into conditions like age-related macular degeneration.
Cyagen’s gene editing and viral vector services are instrumental in advancing gene and cell therapies. These technologies enable precise genetic modifications in cells, which can then be used to correct genetic defects or engineer cells for therapeutic purposes. The company’s support extends to areas like gene therapy for rare diseases, where AI-driven platforms assist in predicting pathogenic gene mutations and designing relevant models for target validation. Cyagen contributes to scientific breakthroughs and the improvement of human health outcomes globally.