Sigma-Aldrich hails ‘breakthrough’ for CompoZr ZFN portfolio

Sigma-Aldrich has announced what is describes as a "major breakthrough" in the development of its proprietary CompoZr zinc finger nuclease (ZFN) technology.

The company has released more Knockout ZFNs that cover the entire genomes of mice and rats, and has also halved the price of its range of CompoZr ZFN products.

Cost reductions have been achieved by the opening of a new high-throughput manufacturing unit, along with advances to the production process and the related design algorithms.

Items in the CompoZr Knockout ZFN portfolio can now be created rapidly, meaning research fields that previously had little or no access can now take advantage of these goods.

David Smoller, chief scientific officer at Sigma Life Science, said: "It is now our objective to continue to drive the development of new applications for CompoZr ZFNs, while maintaining this vital affordability."

Last month, the organisation announced the launch of genetically modified human cell lines to be used for breast cancer research.