[Usage of common marmoset to drug discovery research]

Rodent laboratory animals, such as mice and rats have been greatly contributing to biomedical research. Although its usefulness would not change in the future, nonhuman primates (NHPs) also offer excellent models for preclinical research to assess safety and efficacy of developing novel therapeutic approaches because of their similarities of genetics, metabolism and physiological characteristics to humans. Recent years, the gene modification technology in nonhuman primates has been developed. In fact, pre-clinical studies using nonhuman primates are increasing in the world, especially in the neuroscience research field. Among the NHPs, the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) is one of a suitable NHP laboratory animal for producing genetically modified models because they are fecund animal. This article outlines the common marmoset and that of the disease models.