Company Builds Global Intellectual Property Safeguards for Its Crop Protection Pipeline

Ghent, BELGIUM - 17 September 2024, 07:00 CEST - Biotalys (Euronext BTLS), an Agricultural Technology (AgTech) company developing protein-based biocontrols for sustainable crop protection, today announced that it obtained patents for its first biofungicide, EVOCA™*, from both the European Patent Office (EPO) and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Kevin Helash, Chief Executive Officer of Biotalys, said: "We are very pleased with the recent grants by the European and U.S. patent offices, which follow their thorough examination of our applications protecting the active ingredient of our protein-based biocontrol candidate, EVOCA. These decisions confirm the truly innovative nature of our solution and provide Biotalys with the exclusivity needed to support our commercial partners in producing or distributing EVOCA across Europe and the United States. This will ultimately benefit fruit and vegetable growers seeking to protect their crops against certain fungal diseases."

In addition, Biotalys has requested patent protection for the product's active ingredient in countries around the globe, such as Argentina, Brazil, and South Africa, which are compelling markets for crop protection. The company already obtained various patents worldwide on different elements of its technology and is continuously building its intellectual property protection for its products, formulations and processes.

EVOCA is a novel protein-based biofungicide that earned an entirely new resistance classification by the Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC). The product helps control fungal disease in fruits and vegetables. Demonstrating strong performance in trials across multiple regions, climates, soil types, production types, pathogen pressure and crops to date, EVOCA is currently under review by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Dutch College voor Toelating van Gewasbeschermingsmiddelen en Biociden (CTGB) in the European Union for regulatory approval.

EVOCA will pave the way for EVOCA NG, which is expected to be Biotalys' first commercial fungicide from its AGROBODY™ technology platform. EVOCA and EVOCA NG have the same active ingredient which is now protected by the patent grants in Europe and the U.S.

* EVOCA™: Pending Registration. This product is not currently registered for sale or use in the United States, the European Union, or elsewhere and is not being offered for sale.