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Cologne, Germany
August 14, 2001
MPB Cologne GmbH,
the Molecular Farming company based in Cologne, Germany,
announces today that it licensed its proprietary gene switch
technology to Aventis CropScience, Lyon, France.
The technology based on a ligand-inactivated recombinase
(recLBD) allows controlled regulation of gene expression. A
prominent application of this technology is the elimination of
antibiotic marker genes from transgenic plants. MPB Cologne
holds the exclusive rights for commercial application of the
gene switch system in plants.
"We are delighted to enter into a co-operation with Aventis
CropScience as our first licensee of the recLBD system. This
underlines the commercial importance of the gene switch
technology", said Dr. Klaus Düring, President & CEO of MPB
Cologne. "We, ourselves, apply the recLBD technology to further
improve the biological safety of our Industrial Tuber™ system
for protein production in potato."
Dr. Bernard Convent, Head of Research & Development of Aventis
CropScience BioScience business, commented: "Broadening our
enabling technology platform enhances Aventis CropScience's
position in the evolving crop production industry."
MPB Cologne develops and produces novel proteins as materials
and active agents using Molecular Farming in genetically
optimised potato tubers. The Industrial Tuber™ is used as a
plant bioreactor for economic large-scale production with the
highest biosafety and quality standards. Founded in 1998 MPB
Cologne today has about 35 employees. MPB offers comprehensive
and proprietary plant and protein technology and performs
commercial protein production for industrial customers and
partners.
Aventis CropScience is a major crop protection and crop
production company, which is also involved in top ranking
environmental and public health activities. Committed to
developing sustainable agriculture worldwide, Aventis
CropScience focuses on researching, developing and marketing
innovative solutions that meet the needs of today's farming -
healthy crops, increased yields, improved crop and food quality
- whilst constantly striving to meet the needs of the
environment. With 2000 sales of EUR 4,034 million, Aventis
CropScience devotes over 11% of its
turnover to the Research and Development of new chemicals,
biotechnology and plant varieties. It employs about 14,400
people in more than 120 countries worldwide. For more
information on Aventis visit the Web Site
www.aventis.com.
Company news release
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