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Charles River Laboratories Opens State-of-the-Art Preclinical Services Facility in Massachusetts
Dr. Craig Mello Keynote Speaker at Open House
WILMINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 6, 2007--Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE:CRL) hosted a customer open house at its new, state-of-the-art preclinical services facility in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Representatives from leading biotech and pharmaceutical companies in the Northeast were invited to tour the 450,000 square foot facility. Custom-designed for optimal work flow, this new facility will enable flexible and more rapid study starts for both discovery and development programs.
On-hand to welcome Charles River to the neighborhood and give the keynote address was Dr. Craig Mello, 2006 Nobel Prize Laureate and a Shrewsbury resident. Dr. Mello and his colleagues were awarded the 2006 Nobel Prize in Medicine for their discovery of a fundamental mechanism for controlling the flow of genetic information. RNA interference, or gene silencing, is a natural process that allows a cell to turn its genes on and off according to its needs. By understanding this process, researchers can switch off genes in human cells, providing a way to study what genes do and creating the possibility of a new class of drugs that could shut down known genetic culprits. RNA interference has revolutionized our understanding of gene function and opens an entirely new field in biology.
James C. Foster, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Charles River Laboratories, commented about Dr. Mello's research and monumental achievement, "You grace us with your presence, inspire us with your research, and remind us all that the work we do every day makes a difference in human life. As we open this facility and get to work, I cannot think of a more important message or a more inspirational messenger."
Charles River Laboratories began operations in the new Shrewsbury facility in January 2007. Construction of a similar laboratory to support its West Coast customers is already underway, the first phase of which is expected to open in the summer of 2007.
About Charles River Laboratories
Charles River Laboratories, based in Wilmington, Massachusetts, partners with global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, government agencies, and leading academic institutions to advance the drug discovery and development process, bringing drugs to market faster and more efficiently. Charles River's 8,000 employees serve clients worldwide. For more information on Charles River, visit our web site at www.criver.com.
CONTACT: Charles River Laboratories
Barbara Grady, 978-658-6000 ext 1331
Sr. Marketing Communications Manager
SOURCE: Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.