Press Releases

CONTACT: ERIC WOOLSON
515-681-3967

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2009

EXEMPLAR GENETICS EARNS FULL ACCREDITATION
FROM AAALAC INTERNATIONAL

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Citing Exemplar Genetics’ quality facility, staff, administration and program for animal care, the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care has awarded full accreditation to the ground-breaking research firm.

“Accreditation by the AAALAC is the gold standard in the field of laboratory animal care. It has been our goal since our first day in business to earn accreditation and we’re delighted to receive the news of this accomplishment,” said Dr. John Swart, the company’s president. “AAALAC accreditation reflects a deep commitment by everyone in our company to provide the most humane care for all animals here. We couldn’t be more proud that our facilities, staff and programs have passed the association’s strenuous review.”

“The management and staff are commended for providing exemplary facilities and programs for the care and use of laboratory animals. Especially noteworthy were the strong administrative commitment, the dedicated and enthusiastic staff at all levels of the organization, the innovative facility and equipment designs and the excellent program for animal care,” Dr. John F. Bradfield, president of the AAALAC Council on Accreditation, wrote to summarize the organization’s review of Exemplar Genetics.

The AAALAC International is a private, nonprofit organization that promotes the humane treatment of animals in science through voluntary accreditation and assessment programs.

According to the AAALAC, “More than 770 companies, universities, hospitals, government agencies and other research institutions in 31 countries have earned AAALAC accreditation, demonstrating their commitment to responsible animal care and use. These institutions volunteer to participate in AAALAC's program, in addition to complying with the local, state and federal laws that regulate animal research.”

Like others in the animal welfare arena, AAALAC endorses the use of animals to advance medicine and science when there are no non-animal alternatives, and when it is done in an ethical and humane way. Among the other institutions that have earned AAALAC accreditation include the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, The American Red Cross and the National Institutes of Health.

Bradfield noted that the council “has no further recommendations to offer for improvement of the animal care and use program at this time.”

The AAALAC International requires facilities to provide an annual report detailing any changes made in accredited units during the preceding year.  Such reports are necessary for continued accreditation.

Exemplar Genetics develops, validates and produces animal models of human disease.  The company currently has two models available for cystic fibrosis research. Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary disease that affects the lungs, liver, pancreas and intestines.  It is caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene.  The lack of an animal model that develops the lung disease seen in patients with cystic fibrosis has been a major impediment to understanding how the disease works and how it can be treated or cured. The company will develop additional models for other diseases independently and in collaboration with the country’s best scientists.

CONTACT: ERIC WOOLSON
515-681-3967

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2009

At LoneStar Laboratory Swine, we're driven by the pursuit of the answer to one question: How can we take the best product in the industry and make it even better for our clients?

We took our latest step forward with the move of LoneStar's heard of Miniature Yucatan swine from our old site in Texas to state-of-the-art facilities near Flandreau, South Dakota.

For starters, the move to a more central location enables LoneStar to deliver laboratory swine with fewer transportation challenges or costs.

Most companies would have viewed a move to a new location as simply that and stopped there. But not us.

Our 12-acre facility was specifically chosen to be bio-secure, with no other swine herds within miles.

We also saw the move as a rare opportunity to select the only the very best of animals already recognized as among the healthiest in the business. The result is a herd of Miniature Yucatan swine that's not only the right size but it's also exceptional stock to meet clients' high expectations, exacting needs and growing demands. And, the herd will be the genetic foundation for future top-flight stock.

At LoneStar, we always go that extra mile so we can continue to deliver the best, healthiest miniature swine to our clients.

We're not done yet. Because in the pursuit of excellence, there's always more to be done. And, that's what keeps LoneStar Laboratory Swine at the top of our game - and the pinnacle of our industry.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2009

LONESTAR LABORATORY SWINE STAFF TRAVELS
TO CHARLOTTE FOR TRIANGLE PARK AALAS CONFERENCE

SIOUX CENTER – An East Coast meeting of laboratory animal science professionals will include the LoneStar Laboratory Swine staff.
 
The staff of LoneStar Laboratory Swine will attend the American Association of Laboratory Animal Science National Meeting at the North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine in Charlotte this week.
 
Troy Arends, LoneStar’s director, said the AALAS meeting was another opportunity for the Sioux Center, Iowa, firm to connect with the researchers and other industry professionals who value the company’s expertise and Yucatan Miniature swine.
 
“LoneStar has a great reputation as an industry leader.  Many professionals involved in laboratory animal sciences have already worked with us or certainly have heard about us,” Arends said. “An AALAS meeting like the Triangle Research Branch session puts us in front of the people we want to meet so we can spread the word about LoneStar and reinforce the message about our company’s attributes.”
 
Arends noted that LoneStar will highlight its significant investments in the company’s facilities near Flandreau, South Dakota.
 
The American Association for Laboratory Animal Science is a nonprofit membership group dedicated to the humane care and treatment of laboratory animals and the quality research that leads to scientific gains that benefit people and animals.  The organization has a number of branches.
 
“I think there will be a great deal of interest in the details of our state-of-the-art, climate-controlled biosecure facility and its benefits for our animals and, in turn, the research to which they contribute so much,” Arends said.
 
Founded in 1996 by two veterinarians with decades of experience in swine medicine and research, LoneStar Laboratory Swine has developed an impressive closed-herd of Yucatan Miniature swine to meet specialized research needs.  Preeminent research facilities especially prefer LoneStar's Yucatan Miniature swine for longer-term research, because their smaller size, stable growth rate, lower feeding costs and proportionally smaller housing needs.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2008

LONESTAR LABORATORY SWINE STAFF ATTENDS AALAS
ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN INDIANAPOLIS

SIOUX CENTER – The staff of LoneStar Laboratory Swine will attend the 59th annual American Association of Laboratory Animal Science National Meeting in Indianapolis this coming week.

“LoneStar already is a recognized and respected leader in the production of laboratory swine but we’ve made substantial investments in facility upgrades and customer service that will be well received by current and prospective customers. The AALAS session is recognized as the premier forum for the exchange of information and expertise in the care and use of laboratory animals, and it’s difficult to imagine a more receptive audience for the rollout of the ‘new’ LoneStar,” said Troy Arends, the company’s director.

The American Association for Laboratory Animal Science is a nonprofit membership group dedicated to the humane care and treatment of laboratory animals and the quality research that leads to scientific gains that benefit people and animals.  Every year, its national meeting features more than 200 educational presentations on a wide range of issues of interest to members and other professionals.

“I think there will be a great deal of interest in the details of our enhanced customer service, the expansion of our herd and our new facility,” Arends said.

Founded in 1993 by two veterinarians with decades of experience in swine medicine and research, LoneStar Laboratory Swine has developed an impressive closed-herd of Yucatan Miniature swine to meet specialized research needs. 
Preeminent research facilities especially prefer LoneStar's Yucatan Miniature swine for longer-term research, because their smaller size, stable growth rate, lower feeding costs and proportionally smaller housing needs.