March 19, 2014
Precision BioSciences and Agrivida collaborate on corn trait development
Precision BioSciences and Agrivida have entered into a corn trait development collaboration based on precise gene modifications made possible by Precision''s Directed Nuclease EditorTM (DNE) technology.
Precision has utilised its Directed Nuclease EditorTM (DNE) technology to create products in partnership with many of the world''s largest biopharmaceutical and agricultural biotech firms. The collaboration recently delivered the first modified genes that are the subject of Agrivida commercialisation efforts in the area of animal nutrition, such as improvement in dairy and beef nutrition. Financial and other terms were not disclosed.
Agrivida was very pleased with the functional performance of Precision''s DNE technology. "The efficiency, ease-of-use, and the demonstrated utility of the technology confirm the important role that precise genome engineering will have in the future of agricultural biotechnology," said Mike Lanahan, Agrivida vice-president of business development, animal nutrition. "Agrivida anticipates ongoing trait development using the technology in the collaboration with Precision," added Lanahan.
"Precision is excited by Agrivida''s results and we are thrilled to be working with an innovator in animal nutrition such as Agrivida," said Matthew Kane, Precision chief executive officer. "We are optimistic that the combination of Agrivida''s unique understanding of plant metabolism and Precision''s DNE gene editing technology can be utilised to develop a strong pipeline of greatly needed agricultural product candidates."
Dan Meagher, Agrivida chief executive officer, said, "The opportunity for improving the nutritional characteristics of crops for the dairy and beef market segments is significant. Our results indicate that Precision technology has delivered a compositional modification that will benefit the industry by increasing the productivity of ruminant animals that consume plants expressing our trait."