Key Takeaways:
- Strategic Partnership Formed: Biotalys (Profile) and Novonesis have announced a comprehensive collaboration agreement focusing on the production, supply, and certain commercialization rights of EVOCA NG, Biotalys’ pioneering biofungicide.
- Investment and Production Scale-Up: The partnership includes Novonesis’ investment in the manufacturing process of EVOCA NG to enhance production capacity for global commercialization efforts.
- Global Commercialization and Royalties: Both companies will jointly commercialize EVOCA NG in selected markets outside the United States, with Biotalys receiving royalties on Novonesis’ net sales, showcasing the value of Biotalys’ AGROBODY technology.
- Innovative Biofungicide Development: EVOCA NG, leveraging the unique AGROBODY technology, aims to offer a new solution in the fight against fungal diseases like Botrytis and powdery mildew in fruits and vegetables.
- Future Collaborative Potential: The agreement also paves the way for future collaborations between Biotalys and Novonesis, potentially combining their technologies for further biocontrol advancements.
Pioneering Partnership in AgTech
In a significant move for the agricultural technology (AgTech) sector, Biotalys (Euronext – BTLS), a leader in protein-based biocontrol solutions, has joined forces with Novonesis, a global frontrunner in biosolutions, to bring to market EVOCA NG, Biotalys’ first margin-generating biofungicide. This long-term collaboration encompasses production, global supply, and certain rights to commercialize EVOCA NG, marking a milestone in sustainable crop protection.
Scaling Up for Global Reach
The partnership is currently concluding the manufacturing process development phase for EVOCA NG, including a strategic investment from Novonesis. This investment aims to expand production capacity significantly, ensuring the global commercialization of EVOCA NG. The collaboration extends to the distribution and sale of EVOCA NG for select crops outside the United States, with Biotalys set to receive royalties on Novonesis’ net sales across all covered territories. This agreement underscores the unique value of Biotalys’ AGROBODY™ technology, reflected in the premium royalty percentage allocated to Biotalys.
Kim Mueller Christensen, VP of Animal and Plant Biosolutions Marketing and Business Development at Novonesis, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “We are excited to partner with Biotalys to bring a novel biofungicide to the market. With EVOCA NG, we can leverage our leading fermentation capabilities to enrich Biotalys’ AGROBODY technology, offering a new biocontrol solution to our agricultural partners worldwide.”
Laying the Groundwork for Future Innovations
Kevin Helash, CEO of Biotalys, highlighted the strategic importance of the partnership with Novonesis, noting it as a crucial step in bringing the innovative AGROBODY technology to global customers. This collaboration not only facilitates the commercial launch of EVOCA NG but also sets the stage for future advancements from Biotalys’ AGROBODY 2.0 technology platform.
EVOCA NG: A New Era of Biofungicides
EVOCA NG represents the next generation of Biotalys’ biofungicide solution, designed to combat fungal diseases like Botrytis and powdery mildew, crucial for the health and yield of fruits and vegetables. With an optimized production process and formulation, EVOCA NG aims to provide an effective, sustainable alternative in crop protection, aligning with the growing demand for biocontrol solutions in agriculture.
Biotalys Latest News
Strategic Advancements in Sustainable Crop Protection (2024/02/22)
Biotalys, an AgTech company, has disclosed its financial results for 2023 and shared plans for 2024. The company shifted to the AGROBODY 2.0 platform to enhance its bioactive agents. Biotalys also formed a partnership with Syngenta and has made progress in pipeline programs like BioFun-4, BioFun-6, BioFun-7, and BioIns-2. The company has a cash balance of €21.6 million and has extended its financial runway until the end of April 2025.
New Academic Collaboration In The US & Europe (2024/02/08)
Biotalys has academic collaborations with leading researchers in plant pathology in Europe and the U.S. They are developing biocontrols to protect crops from pests and diseases and have initiated the BioFun-4 R&D program to develop a biofungicide against Phytophthora infestans. Biotalys has entered into a research collaboration agreement with the University of Aberdeen and has also announced two new academic collaborations related to BioFun-7, its ongoing R&D program in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Dr. Carlo Boutton is excited about these collaborations and believes that they will help build on the strong scientific foundation of the company’s programs and technology.
EVOCA™’s Promising Results In U.S. Field Trials (2023/12/19)
Biotalys has announced the success of its biofungicide candidate, EVOCA, in independent efficacy field trials for grapevines and strawberries. EVOCA, developed on Biotalys’ AGROBODY platform, offers an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides. Trials conducted by the University of California Davis and the University of Florida provided detailed insights into EVOCA’s performance. The Californian Department of Pesticide Regulation is reviewing EVOCA’s regulatory dossier, and swift approval at the state level is contingent on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s federal approval.
Strategic Shift to Biotalys’s AGROBODY™ 2.0 Technology (2023/11/29)
Biotalys is shifting its focus to second-generation AGROBODY™ technology under the leadership of new CEO Kevin Helash. The company has updated its product pipeline and undergone significant organizational changes. Regulatory review of EVOCA™ is underway in the U.S. and E.U. Biotalys is now advancing its AGROBODY™ platform evolution, emphasizing the need for enhanced potency and efficacy of bioactive agents. The company has revised its pipeline to focus on biofungicides and bioinsecticides and has implemented cost management strategies, including a reduction in headcount.
Biotalys Appoints New CEO to Spearhead Next Growth Phase (2023/10/02)
Belgium-based AgTech firm Biotalys has appointed Kevin Helash as its new CEO and Director. Helash will succeed Patrice Sellès by December 2023. Sellès will remain in an advisory role for 30 days. Helash brings over 30 years of experience in the agricultural industry, having previously served as CEO at Marrone Bio Innovations and Agrinos, as well as a VP at Nutrien. The company is preparing to launch its first biocontrol product, Evoca, in the US market.
Biotalys H1 2023 Report: Innovations, Partnerships, and Progress in AgTech Biocontrol Solutions (2023/08/23)
Biotalys, an AgTech company specializing in protein-based biocontrol solutions, has reported its H1 2023 financial results and business achievements. The company highlights advancements in product development, technology, and strategic collaborations. Biotalys partnered with Syngenta to develop a new bio-insecticide and succeeded with its first protein-based biocontrol solution, Evoca. The company has also strengthened its intellectual property rights and secured two additional patents. Biotalys is preparing for the commercial launch of Evoca in 2026, and its emphasis on creating safer tools for sustainable crop protection strategies underlines its mission to address the pressing needs of the agricultural sector.
Biotalys Raises €7 Million Through Private Investment (2023/06/07)
Biotalys NV has secured €7 million through a private investment in a public equity (PIPE) transaction. The transaction involves issuing 1,135,257 new shares, representing approximately 3.67% of the company’s shares outstanding before the transaction. The new shares will be paid for and delivered on Monday, 12th June 2023, after which they will be listed on Euronext Brussels. The funds will be allocated to expanding and advancing the company’s pipeline, platform development, market calibration, and acquiring key talent.
Biotalys’ Evoca Shows Promising Results in Field Trials for Crop Protection (2023/05/31)
AgTech firm Biotalys has revealed positive feedback from its field trials of the biocontrol product Evoca. Over 160 trials were conducted in collaboration with industry players throughout 2022, with the majority focused on using Evoca against Botrytis in grapes. The trials showed that Evoca delivered remarkable results and could serve as a sustainable alternative to chemical applications in IPM programs. The product was also tested on other high-value fruits and vegetables and demonstrated promising results. According to Biotalys, Evoca’s performance and reliability have laid the foundation for an upcoming line of next-generation biocontrols.
Biotalys Announces Douglas Minder to Become CFO (2023/04/15)
Biotalys (Euronext:BTLS) is an Agricultural Technology (AgTech) company that focuses on developing protein-based biocontrol solutions for crop and food protection. The company has announced that its Board of Directors has approved a succession plan under which Douglas Minder will be promoted to Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective July 1, 2023. Minder will take over responsibility from Wim Ottevaere, who will continue to serve Biotalys in an advisory capacity after concluding his operational role. This move is part of the company’s growth ambitions, and the management team believes that Minder is an excellent choice for the role.
Biotalys Reports Its FY 2022 Results & Achievements (2023/02/28)
Biotalys, an agtech company specializing in biocontrols, reported its financial results for 2022. The company achieved significant progress in key areas, including establishing partnerships, breakthroughs in production, and obtaining regulatory approvals for its first bio-fungicide product, Evoca. Biotalys plans to launch the commercial version of Evoca in Europe in 2026 and expects its next generation to enter the market by 2026. The company’s pipeline of product candidates also progressed as planned, and new appointments were made to support its growth. The complete financial report will be published on Biotalys’ website on March 24, 2023.
Read their financial results here.
Biotalys Advances Manufacturing of Biocontrol Product Evoca (2023/01/26)
Biotalys has improved the production efficiency of Evoca’s bioactive ingredient by 50 to 70% in a year, by developing multiple proprietary yeast strains. Evoca is a bio fungicide that controls fungal diseases in various crops and has shown strong performance over 600 independent and company-driven field & greenhouse trials. Protein-based biocontrols like Evoca can increase production efficiency by 50 to 70% in only one year, reducing production costs and clearing the path to a market entry that is economically viable. Subject to regulatory clearance by the U.S. EPA, Evoca will initially be distributed in a handful of states in the U.S. while a commercial version is expected for 2026. Biotalys plans to further expand its I.P. portfolio and develop Evoca and its pipeline of biocontrols to substitute chemical pesticides.
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