Ingenium, a Munich, Germany-based company, has developed new genetic rat models based on techniques proven by Ingenium in mouse models. The new rat models are expected to give scientists the rats they prefer when engaged in cardiovascular, behavioral, and neurological disease research. The technology is called INGENOtyping and permits development of rodent models with gene-specific modifications. The technology involves use of ethylnitrosourea to create slight changes throughout the animal's genome. Ingenium's first use of INGENOtyping in the mouse produced gene knockouts several times more quickly than those possible with the standard procedure of homologous recombination in embryonic stem (ES) cells, says Michael Nehls, CEO of Ingenium. Ingenium has output a wealth of information from its Deductive Genomics drug discovery technology, which requires breeding of a mouse in a mouse clinic with chemically induced random mutations and analysis of the models for new information that could help cure disease. The data are in the Ingenium bioinformatics software system, and Ingenium is building a library large enough to take randomness out of its approach, since every mutation is pre-made in every gene. Ingenium also continues to offer mouse models to large pharmas. These results, and Ingenium's agreements for supplying well-known companies with the INGENOtyping technology, are assisting Ingenium in competing in the very competitive biotechnology sector.