Codex DNA Announces Synthetic Biology Collaboration with U.S. Department of Agriculture to Combat Citrus Greening Disease
August 05 2021 - 7:00AM
Codex DNA, Inc. (NASDAQ: DNAY), a pioneer in automated benchtop
synthetic biology systems, today announced a collaboration with
researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA)
Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Cornell University, the
University of Florida, the University of California at Riverside,
and AgroSource, Inc., to identify scalable therapeutic measures
against citrus greening disease. This multidisciplinary team has
been awarded a grant worth nearly $15 million from the National
Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to develop cost-effective
and sustainable solutions to the insect-borne disease ravaging the
$10 billion citrus industry in Florida, Texas, and California. As
previously disclosed in Codex DNA’s filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, the company will receive up to $3 million as a
sub-awardee to leverage and expand its diverse synthetic biology
portfolio for agricultural biotechnology applications.
Citrus greening disease, also called Huanglongbing, is a
destructive bacterial disease affecting citrus plants around the
globe. First identified in Florida in 2005, citrus greening disease
has since been detected in every citrus-producing county in Florida
and across California. Citrus greening disease is particularly
destructive in its ability to reduce citrus taste and yield and
significantly shortens the tree’s lifespan. Citrus greening disease
is easily spread by insects called psyllids. The USDA predicts that
at the existing rate of spread and the continued impact on the
economies of production, citrus greening disease could destroy the
U.S. citrus industry.
The NIFA grant connects researchers across disciplines including
molecular and cellular biology, synthetic biology, plant
physiology, pest-transmitted disease interactions, agricultural
engineering, and others.
“We are delighted to work with Codex DNA to solve the major
global citrus greening disease challenge. As a leader in the
synthetic biology field, Codex DNA brings a unique approach to this
problem,” said Robert Shatters, PhD, Research Leader of USDA ARS
and Principal Investigator on the NIFA grant.
Codex DNA will use its automated benchtop system to rapidly
generate synthetic DNA capable of delivering therapeutic molecules
to plants. The company offers an ideal screening solution for the
team’s novel symbiont technology because it enables the generation
of complex and diverse synthetic DNA libraries in a short amount of
time.
“We are grateful to NIFA for this funding and to the rest of our
collaborators for envisioning such a compelling project,” said Todd
R. Nelson, PhD, CEO of Codex DNA. “This project aligns perfectly
with our company’s goal of enabling the development of sustainable,
synthetic biology-based solutions to address the biggest challenges
we face today. We are looking forward to working with this team of
scientists to help protect our citrus plants and secure our food
supply.”
Additionally, Codex DNA will build on its expertise in
developing the VmaxTM system, a scalable therapeutic molecule
discovery and production platform that enables rapid and
cost-effective screening and identification of biomolecules that
could be effective against citrus greening disease. Codex DNA plans
to make the Vmax system broadly accessible for researchers
interested in the identification of treatment candidates for other
plant, animal, and human diseases.
About Codex DNACodex DNA is empowering
scientists with the ability to address many of humanity’s greatest
challenges through synthetic biology. As inventors of the
industry-standard Gibson Assembly® method and the first commercial
automated benchtop DNA and mRNA synthesis system, Codex DNA is
enabling rapid, accurate, and reproducible writing of DNA and mRNA
for numerous downstream markets. The company’s award-winning BioXp™
system consolidates, automates, and optimizes the entire synthesis,
cloning, and amplification workflow. As a result, it delivers
virtually error-free synthesis of DNA/RNA at scale within days and
hours instead of weeks or months. Scientists around the world are
using the technology in their own laboratories to accelerate the
design-build-test paradigm to create novel, high-value products for
precision medicine, biologics drug discovery, vaccine and
therapeutic development, genome editing, and cell and gene therapy.
Codex DNA is a public company based in San Diego. For more
information, visit codexdna.com.
Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release
contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Such
forward-looking statements are based on Codex DNA’s beliefs and
assumptions and on information currently available to it on the
date of this press release. Forward-looking statements may involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may
cause Codex DNA’s actual results, performance or achievements to be
materially different from those expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements. These statements include but are not
limited to statements regarding Codex DNA’s ability to generate
synthetic DNA capable of delivering therapeutic molecules to
plants. These and other risks are described more fully in Codex
DNA’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)
and other documents that Codex DNA subsequently files with the SEC
from time to time. Except to the extent required by law, Codex DNA
undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect
events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on
which they were made.
Contact:Jennifer McNealeyChief Financial
Officerir@codexdna.com
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