MuriGenics is a preclinical contract research organization in Vallejo, California, on the northeast side of San Francisco Bay.[S2] It describes itself as offering "robust preclinical in-vivo and in-vitro contract drug discovery and development services, supported with statistical validation, solid science and project management to companies throughout the United States."[S1] One characteristic is worth stating up front: the company describes its toxicology and biodistribution work as non-GLP in its own words, so sponsors needing GLP toxicology should ask whether another provider or arrangement is required.[S3][S4] This profile summarizes the models, services, stated compliance information, and company facts most relevant to US sponsors.
Nonclinical services relevant to US drug developers
Oncology and immuno-oncology models
The oncology page lists xenograft, syngeneic, orthotopic, homograft, genetically engineered and metastatic mouse models, grouped as xenograft (cell line-derived), syngeneic, orthotopic, homograft and genetically engineered mouse models, and metastatic models.[S5] Hosts listed for xenograft work are "athymic Nude mice (Balb/c background Foxn1nu mutation), NSG, other immune-deficient mice."[S5] Named xenograft cell lines include LNCaP, PC-3 and DU-145 for prostate; MCF-7, BT-474, SK-BR3, BT-20, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-453 for breast; HT-29, HCT-116, COLO 205, SW620, SNU-C2B and KM12 for colorectal; and NCI-H460, NCI-H522, A549 and DMS53 for lung.[S5] Syngeneic lines listed include 4T1 and EMT-6, KLN205 and Lewis lung carcinoma, colon26, CT26 and MC38, A20 and EG7, B16 and Renca.[S5] For immuno-oncology the company offers adoptive transfer of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells, CAR-T evaluation and syngeneic checkpoint inhibitor work, noting that "CAR-T-cell therapy can induce rapid and durable clinical responses which are associated sometimes with acute toxicities."[S6]
Inflammation, autoimmune, fibrosis, and other disease areas
Autoimmune models listed include insulin-dependent diabetes in non-obese diabetic mice, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis induced with MOG or PLP, collagen-induced arthritis and lupus models in BALB/c and B6 mice.[S7] Inflammation models cover LPS and carrageenan challenges, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis and allotransplant designs, and organ fibrosis models include bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis, carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis, cisplatin-induced kidney fibrosis, methionine-choline-deficient diet-induced fibrosis and bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis.[S7] Other areas listed are metabolic disease with diet-induced obesity in C57BL/6 mice, db/db and ob/ob mice, the Zucker diabetic fatty rat and the Goto-Kakizaki rat; cardiovascular models in ApoE and LDL receptor knockout mice and the spontaneously hypertensive rat; MPTP-induced Parkinson's disease; and infectious disease models including a neutropenic thigh model and a superficial skin wound infection model.[S8]
In vitro assays, gene function work, and histology
In vitro services cover cytotoxicity and proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, migration and invasion, and hepatotoxicity panels, drawing on a bank the company describes as "over 200 banked cell lines."[S9] A myelotoxicity panel using colony-forming assays is offered, described as "a panel of screens designed to help our clients gain insight into the possibility to which their compounds may produce myelotoxicity."[S10] Gene function work includes transfection, siRNA and shRNA knockdown and "genome editing of individual and multiples genes ? including CRISPR_CAS9,"[S11] with RNA isolation, qPCR and RNA-seq. Immunoassays cover ELISA, bead-based multiplex cytokine panels, flow cytometry and ELISpot.[S13] Histology is performed on site and the company states that "our highly trained and experienced board-certified pathologist is committed to provide you with the highest level of quality,"[S12] covering standard and special stains, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence, tissue microarray and multiplex immunohistochemistry.[S12]
Quality, compliance, and animal welfare (as stated by the company)
GLP. The company states directly that it "specializes in preclinical stage non-GLP toxicology studies"[S3] and that it "offers non-GLP services to accurately access the bio-distribution of test compound in the target and non-target tissues."[S4] These are explicit statements rather than an absence of information. GLP compliance attaches to individual nonclinical laboratory studies under the applicable regulation,[R2] so a program can combine exploratory work here with GLP studies at another facility, provided the roles are agreed in advance. The site does not address whether GLP work is ever arranged through a partner laboratory.
Animal oversight. The company states that "at MuriGenics we have established IACUC protocols for toxicology studies in mouse and rat species,"[S3] that "our rodent protocols are IACUC approved,"[S4] and that irritation studies are "conducted in accordance with the approved IACUC protocol and OECD guidelines 404 for acute dermal irritation/corrosion."[S3] No AAALAC accreditation, USDA registration or OLAW Animal Welfare Assurance statement was found on any of the pages reviewed, and the 3Rs terminology is not used. That is an absence in those pages, not a finding about the status of the company, since the company does state its IACUC arrangements. Sponsors who require accreditation or registration documentation should ask the company directly. AAALAC International accreditation is a voluntary evaluation of an institution's animal care and use program, re-evaluated every three years,[R3] and USDA registration and an OLAW Animal Welfare Assurance relate to the Animal Welfare Act and the PHS Policy respectively;[R4][R5] none of these establishes GLP compliance, which applies to individual studies.[R2] FDA does not approve or certify laboratories; registration with FDA does not denote approval.[R6]
Company facts
Name
MuriGenics (no corporate suffix is shown on the website)[S1]
Location
Vallejo, California, United States (no street address is published)[S2]
Founded
Not stated on the pages reviewed
Ownership
Not published
Leadership
Henry Lopez (President and Chief Scientific Officer); Steven Noonan (Chief Operations Officer)[S1]
Scientific advisors
Nine named consultants covering pathology, laboratory animal medicine, molecular and cell biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, medicinal and organic chemistry, and formulation[S1]
Employees and facility size
Not published
Species
Mice (outbred, inbred and genetically engineered strains) and rats, with implanted catheters available[S3]
GLP
The company describes its toxicology and biodistribution work as non-GLP[S3][S4]
Animal oversight
IACUC-approved rodent protocols; OECD Test Guideline 404 named for dermal irritation. No AAALAC, USDA or OLAW statement found[S3]
FDA ? "Is It Really FDA Approved?" (FDA does not approve health care providers, including laboratories; registration does not denote approval); FDA Compliance Program 7348.808 (GLP inspections of nonclinical laboratories). https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/it-really-fda-approved (accessed 2026-09-03)
3 Recommended Contract Research Organizations
for Non-Clinical Studies
— by Target goal and Expertise
In non-clinical development, the choice of contract research organization shapes the quality of the data and the time it takes to reach the next decision. Below, three CROs are introduced by the type of study they support: pharmacology (efficacy) studies, safety studies, and pharmacokinetic (PK/PD) studies. Each summary describes the services the company offers so that you can match a provider to your target and development objective.
Pharmacology (Efficacy) StudiesDisease-Relevant Models for Translational Drug Evaluation
Reference: SMC Laboratories, Inc. official website (https://www.smccro-lab.com/)
SMC Laboratories, Inc.
SMC Laboratories is a specialized non-clinical CRO focused on in vivo pharmacology and efficacy studies using disease-relevant animal models, particularly in fibrosis, inflammation, metabolic diseases, and oncology.
Areas of Expertise
Disease-Relevant Model Portfolio
SMC Laboratories offers models covering the liver, lung, kidney, intestine, and oncology. Its portfolio includes the proprietary STAM™ model for MASH, fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Study Design Based on Target Biology
Study plans are developed around the target biology, mechanism of action, disease stage, and development objective. Pharmacological endpoints can be combined with histopathology, biomarkers, and disease-specific readouts.
Support from Target Validation to Proof of Concept
With experience from more than 1,000 studies for clients in 30 countries, SMC Laboratories supports programs from target validation and candidate selection through in vivo proof-of-concept studies.
Safety StudiesComprehensive Safety Assessment for Preclinical Development
Reference: Charles River Laboratories official website (https://www.criver.com/)
Charles River Laboratories
Charles River provides non-clinical toxicology and safety assessment services for programs ranging from exploratory safety studies to IND-enabling development.
Areas of Expertise
General Toxicology Across Study Designs
Services include single- and repeat-dose toxicology, dose-range finding, and general toxicology studies across multiple species and administration routes.
Non-GLP and GLP Study Support
Charles River supports both non-GLP and GLP studies, allowing sponsors to progress from early safety characterization to studies intended for regulatory submissions.
Integrated IND-Enabling Safety Assessment
Toxicology studies can be integrated with toxicokinetics, clinical pathology, histopathology, and safety pharmacology to support interpretation and IND-enabling safety packages.
Pharmacokinetic (PK/PD) StudiesConnecting Drug Exposure with Pharmacological Response
Reference: Inotiv official website (https://www.inotiv.com/)
Inotiv
Inotiv provides integrated PK/PD, DMPK, and bioanalytical services to characterize drug exposure and its relationship with pharmacological response.
Areas of Expertise
Pharmacokinetic Characterization
PK studies characterize exposure, half-life, clearance, and other pharmacokinetic parameters needed to understand how a candidate behaves in the selected model.
Exposure–Response Evaluation
Pharmacokinetic data can be combined with pharmacodynamic endpoints and bioanalysis to evaluate the relationship between drug exposure and pharmacological response.
Integrated DMPK and Development Support
Integrated DMPK, pharmacology, and safety information supports candidate comparison, dose selection, dosing-frequency optimization, and decisions about subsequent preclinical development.
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