Evogene’s Leading Insect Control Genes Demonstrate Effectiveness Against Insects with Resistance to Current Commercial Solu...
November 27 2018 - 7:00AM
Evogene Ltd. (NASDAQ, TASE: EVGN), a leading biotechnology company
developing novel products for life science markets, announces today
that a well-recognized external laboratory and in-house testing had
confirmed that leading Evogene insect control genes demonstrated
efficacy against insects with resistance to current commercial
insect control products, including fall armyworm and diamondback
moth. These results indicate that Evogene has identified new
Modes-of-Action (MoAs) for insect control.
The genes were identified and predicted by
Evogene’s in silico CPB (Computational Predictive Biology) platform
to provide high insecticidal activity through new MoAs. These genes
have previously met efficacy criteria presenting high insecticidal
activity, achieving the first milestone and leading to phase
advancement. Today's announcement focuses on achieving the
second milestone, a new MoA. Currently these genes are going
through transformation to corn and soybean with greenhouse results
expected in 2019 against relevant major pests.
A new MoA insect control product has the
potential to have a major effect on the industry as it addresses
one of its major challenges – increasing resistance to current
insect solutions, all of which are essentially based on the same
MoAs introduced decades ago. For instance, fall armyworm, a
devastating pest that inflicts severe damages to corn, soybean and
other crops, exhibits an ever-expanding resistance to current
insect control seed traits. Insect control seed traits targeting
major insect pests, such as fall armyworm, have sales potential of
$1.5Bn – $2 Bn1.
Dr. Arnon Heyman, Evogene VP and GM,
Ag-Seeds stated: “The proof we see today for a new Mode of
Action is a major milestone towards introducing new products to
control insect damage. The potential of such products is clear, as
it will solve one of the biggest challenges of the Ag industry –
increasing resistance to current solutions. We look forward to
update you as we continue the testing and development of these
promising insect control products.”
About Evogene’s Computational Predictive Biology (CPB)
Platform:
Evogene’s CPB platform has been designed to
predict and prioritize in silico genes, proteins, microbes and
small molecules based on multiple attributes that will be key to
successful development and commercialization of novel life-science
based products. Successfully addressing these multiple
product attributes at the beginning of the discovery process,
rather than one at a time during the development phase,
substantially reduces the time and cost of a program seeking a
novel product, but much more importantly, greatly increases the
probability of a successful outcome. Following such in-silico
prediction and prioritization, the resulting candidates are
experimentally validated in lab and greenhouse testing or other
biological/chemical assays. Furthermore, the nature of the
prediction/experimentation process results in the CPB's accuracy
continuously improving with each use.
About Evogene Ltd.:
Evogene (NASDAQ, TASE: EVGN) is a leading
biotechnology company developing novel products for major life
science markets through the use of a unique computational
predictive biology (CPB) platform incorporating deep scientific
understandings and cutting-edge computational technologies. Today,
this platform is utilized by the Company and its subsidiaries to
discover and develop innovative products in the following areas:
ag-chemicals, ag-biologicals, seed traits, integrated castor oil
ag-solutions and human microbiome-based therapeutics. Each
subsidiary or division establishes its product pipeline and
go-to-market, as demonstrated in its collaborations with
world-leading companies such as BASF, Corteva, Bayer and ICL. For
more information, please visit www.evogene.com
Forward Looking StatementsThis
press release contains "forward-looking statements" relating to
future events. These statements may be identified by words such as
"may", "could", “expects”, "intends", “anticipates”, “plans”,
“believes”, “scheduled”, “estimates” or words of similar meaning.
Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates,
projections and assumptions, describe opinions about future events,
involve certain risks and uncertainties which are difficult to
predict and are not guarantees of future performance. Therefore,
actual future results, performance or achievements of Evogene may
differ materially from what is expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, many of
which beyond Evogene's control, including, without limitation,
those risk factors contained in Evogene’s reports filed with the
appropriate securities authority. Evogene disclaims any obligation
or commitment to update these forward-looking statements to reflect
future events or developments or changes in expectations,
estimates, projections and assumptions.
Contact:Nir Zalik IR/PR
ManagerE: IR@evogene.comT: (+972)-8-931-1963
US Investor RelationsVivian Cervantes PCG
AdvisoryE: vivian@pcgadvisory.comT: 646-863-6274
____________________________1 Monsanto – Annual R&D Pipeline
Review - 2018
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