Taconic Improves Access to Knockout Mouse Models Through Enhanced Partnership with Lexicon Pharmaceuticals

Dramatically reduced pricing helps optimize research budgets

More than 3,200 knockout mouse lines available
HUDSON, N.Y.--(Business Wire)--
Taconic, one of the largest laboratory rodent providers in the world, announced
it has enhanced its strategic partnership with Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for
the production and distribution of fully-licensed knockout mouse models for
research. Under the new terms of the agreement, researchers can access these
critical models at significantly reduced pricing.

Through a partnership with Lexicon that began in 2006, Taconic provides
commercial and academic researchers worldwide with immediate access to the
Taconic Knockout Repository of more than 3,200 knockout mouse lines, with new
lines added continually. The enhanced agreement provides researchers with
dramatically lower base pricing on these models, with additional multi-line
discounts also available.

"By strengthening this important strategic relationship, Taconic will enable our
customers to optimize their research dollars and maximize their investment in
models that have proven critical for biomedical research," said Todd Little,
Taconic CEO. The repository eliminates the time-consuming steps of custom model
design and development, further improving researchers` competitive advantage by
greatly accelerating drug discovery and speeding time-to-market with new
therapeutic agents.

Taconic`s unparalleled access and time-to-market with knockout mouse models will
also improve under the new agreement. Cryopreservation recovery and shipment of
mouse lines will be handled directly from the knockout model production facility
in Texas, eliminating the need for re-derivation at a separate site. The models
are delivered at the Murine Pathogen Free health standard following rigorous
standard operating procedures to ensure quality and integrity. A simple Material
Transfer Agreement makes it easy for researchers to obtain relevant knockout
models that meet their unique needs.

For a searchable database of Taconic`s 3,200 readily available knockout models,
visit www.taconic.com/korepository.

About Taconic

Taconic Farms, Inc. was founded in 1952 as a family-owned business in New York`s
Hudson River Valley. Since then, the company has become one of the largest
laboratory rodent providers in the world with a reputation for consistently
producing high quality, well-defined rats and mice. Taconic`s expertise in the
custom design and generation of genetically modified mice, mouse and rat
breeding, barrier systems, genetics and animal health supports researchers
focused on drug development using in vivo models. Taconic has six breeding
facilities and three service laboratories in the USA and Europe, a staff of over
1,000, and a commitment to technological innovation. Additional information
about Taconic is available through its corporate website, www.taconic.com.

Taconic
Susan Fogt, 518-697-3962
Marketing Communications
susan.fogt@taconic.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009