Calgary, Alberta
May 11, 2004
SemBioSys Genetics Inc.,
a Canadian biotechnology company, announced today that it has
signed a feasibility agreement with
Dow AgroSciences LLC, of
Indianapolis, Ind., for the Stratosome(TM) Biologics System and
its application to animal health biologics. Under the terms of
the agreement, SemBioSys and Dow AgroSciences will engage in
collaborative research with the aim of determining if the
Stratosome(TM) Biologics System can enable the commercialization
of a Dow AgroSciences plant-made vaccine.
Under the terms of the agreement, SemBioSys will receive upfront
and milestone payments. Further terms of the agreement were not
disclosed.
"We believe that our Stratosome(TM) Biologics System, with its
economic and functional benefits, makes it an outstanding
platform for animal health products. We are extremely pleased to
be working with Dow AgroSciences in developing their vaccine,"
said Andrew Baum, president and CEO of SemBioSys.
"We are very pleased to be working with SemBioSys in evaluating
the Stratosome(TM) technology and its application to plant-made
biologics for the animal health industry," stated Butch Mercer,
Global Business Leader, Animal Health and Nutrition for Dow
AgroSciences.
This is the third funded development agreement announced by
SemBioSys in the last six months. In December, SemBioSys
announced that it had executed a development agreement with
Martek Biosciences Corporation (Nasdaq: MATK) to co-develop
value-added specialty oil products (DHA containing safflower
oil) with potential pharmaceutical and nutraceutical
applications. In February, SemBioSys announced that it had
entered into an agreement with Syngenta for access to SemBioSys'
proprietary oilbody based Stratosome(TM) Biologics and
StratoCapture(TM) Purification Systems for the development of
Syngenta's biologic products.
Calgary, Alberta-based SemBioSys Genetics Inc. is a privately
held biotechnology company focused on the development of
therapeutic proteins and oils using its proprietary
oilbody-based technology - the Stratosome™ Biologics System.
Spun out of the University of Calgary in 1994, the company's
investors include Bay City Capital, Dow AgroSciences Canada,
Inc., Ventures West Management Inc., BDC Venture Capital,
University Technologies International Inc., RBC Capital Partners
and Maurice Moloney Ph.D. scientific founder and chief
scientific officer. In addition to these investors, SemBioSys
has received repayable contributions of CAD$5.5MM from
Technology Partnerships Canada, an agency of Industry Canada,
and CAD$4.9MM from AVAC Ltd. SemBioSys has partnerships with
Syngenta Participations AG and Martek Biosciences for the use of
its Stratosome(TM) technology for the development of therapeutic
products.
Dow AgroSciences LLC, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, is a
global leader in providing pest management and biotechnology
products that improve the quality and quantity of the earth's
food supply and contribute to the health and quality of life of
the world's growing population. Dow AgroSciences has
approximately 5,700 people in more than 50 countries dedicated
to its business, and has worldwide sales of US $3 billion. Dow
AgroSciences is a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of The Dow
Chemical Company.
Stratosome, StratoCapture and DermaSphere are trademarks of
SemBioSys Genetics Inc. |