Biotalys Expands R&D Pipeline with New Biofungicide Program
October 01 2024 - 1:00AM
UK Regulatory
Biotalys Expands R&D Pipeline with New Biofungicide Program
BioFun-8 Will Focus on Combatting Alternaria, a Top Leaf
Spot Fungus, in Fruits, Vegetables and Potato Crops
Ghent, Belgium, Oct. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE)
-- Biotalys (Euronext - BTLS), an Agricultural Technology (AgTech)
company developing protein-based biocontrols for sustainable crop
protection, today announced the addition of a new biofungicide
program, BioFun-8, to its research and development
pipeline.
Dr. Carlo Boutton, Chief Scientific
Officer of Biotalys, said: “Fungal
diseases continue to cause numerous challenges for growers – from
creating stress on plants that stunts their growth and reduces
yields, to devastating entire crops and infesting the soil with
billions of spores. Our newest biocontrol program will focus on
developing a biofungicide to control Alternaria, one of the key
fungal diseases in fruits, vegetables and specialty crops. As in
all our pipeline programs, we aim to deliver a crop protection
solution to tackle this pathogen with the efficacy and safety
desired by growers at a competitive cost.”
Building on its expertise in biofungicide
development for global fruit and vegetable markets, Biotalys will
leverage its proprietary AGROBODY 2.0 technology platform to
accelerate the development of a novel protein-based biocontrol
targeting the leaf spot fungal disease Alternaria. As existing
products for Alternaria treatments face rising chemical resistance
and regional regulatory roadblocks, the global market size for a
novel crop protection solution against this fungal disease is
estimated to be in the range of USD 1.1 billion at grower level.*
In addition, as Alternaria causes significant contamination and
rotting of food products in the storage period, applications of a
new and effective product have potential in the post-harvest
segment as well.
Despite widespread usage of chemical antifungal
products, growers lose an estimated 10-23 percent of their crops to
fungal infections each year and those losses are expected to worsen
and spread to new regions in the face of continued climate
change.
BioFun-8 is the latest addition to the growing
pipeline of protein-based biocontrols of Biotalys. The company has
already finalized the development of its first biofungicide
EVOCA™**, targeting botrytis and powdery mildew, which is currently
under regulatory review by the authorities in the US and EU. If
approved, EVOCA will pave the way for its next generation version
EVOCA NG which is expected to be the first commercial product out
of the Biotalys’ pipeline. Other ongoing R&D programs are
BioFun-6, targeting botrytis, powdery mildew and anthracnose;
BioFun-7, a program sponsored by the Gates Foundation to fight leaf
spot disease on cowpea; BioFun-4, a project aimed at tackling
oomycetes (water mould); and BioIns-2, a partnership with Syngenta
to develop a new bioinsecticide against key pests.
* Source: Kynetec, based on prices at
end-user level.
** EVOCA™: Pending Registration. This
product is not currently registered for sale or use in the United
States, the European Union, or elsewhere and is not being offered
for sale.
For further information, please
contact:
Toon Musschoot, Head of Investor Relations and Communications
T: +32 (0)9 274 54 00
E: IR@biotalys.com
About Biotalys
Biotalys is an Agricultural Technology (AgTech)
company developing protein-based biocontrol solutions for the
protection of crops and food and aiming to provide alternatives to
conventional chemical pesticides for a more sustainable and safer
food supply. Based on its novel AGROBODY™ technology platform,
Biotalys is developing a strong and diverse pipeline of effective
product candidates with a favorable safety profile that aim to
address key crop pests and diseases across the whole value chain,
from soil to plate. Biotalys was founded in 2013 as a spin-off from
the VIB (Flanders Institute for Biotechnology) and has been listed
on Euronext Brussels since July 2021. The company is based in the
biotech cluster in Ghent, Belgium. More information can be found on
www.biotalys.com.
- Press Release Biotalys BioFun-8
- Persbericht Biotalys BioFun-8
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