Biotalys partners with Novonesis to develop biofungicide EVOCA NG

Biotalys, an agritech company dedicated to protein-based biocontrol solutions for sustainable crop protection, has announced a comprehensive, long-term collaboration agreement with Novonesis, a global leader in biological solutions.

The collaboration covers production, global supply and certain commercialization rights for EVOCA NG, which is expected to be Biotalys' first profitable biofungicide.

Biotalys and Novonesis are completing the manufacturing process development phase for EVOCA NG, which includes an investment from Novonesis to facilitate capacity scaling to support global commercialization.

The companies will also become commercial partners for the distribution and sale of EVOCA NG in select crops outside the United States. Biotalys will receive royalties from Novonesis' net sales of EVOCA NG in all coverage geographies. The agreed royalty percentage is premium to the industry and reflects the uniqueness of AGROBODY technology in sustainable crop protection.

The companies will explore future collaborations involving Biotalys' promising AGROBODY™ technology platform, including potential combinations with Novonesis biocontrol technology.

Kim Mueller Christensen, Vice President, Marketing and Business Development, Plant and Animal Biosolutions, Novonesis, said: "We are excited to partner with Biotalys to bring a new biocide containing a new active ingredient to market. With EVOCA NG, we will be able to leverage our world-leading fermentation capabilities to add value to Biotalys' very promising AGROBODY technology." We look forward to working with Biotalys to provide another novel biocontrol solution to our agricultural partners around the world and help shape safer and more sustainable food production."

Kevin Helash, CEO of Biotalys said: “Novonesis is a respected international leader in biologic solutions. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to partner with them to produce EVOCA NG, allowing us to introduce innovative AGROBODY technology to customers around the world. This is an important step forward for Biotalys as we lay the foundation for future commercial releases of the AGROBODY 2.0 technology platform. "

EVOCA NG is a biofungicide product candidate with the same active ingredient as Biotalys' first-generation EVOCA, but with an optimized manufacturing process and formulation that enables the product to be commercialized at competitive levels.

EVOCA and EVOCA NG are designed to provide fruit and vegetable growers with effective new crop protection products to help control the devastating fungal diseases Botrytis cinerea and powdery mildew.