CHROMATIN AND MONSANTO ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT TO ADVANCE GENE STACKING
TECHNOLOGY
CHICAGO, IL. and ST. LOUIS, MO. (May 22, 2007) Chromatin Inc. and Monsanto
Company today announced they have entered into a collaborative agreement to
evaluate and develop Chromatin¹s proprietary gene-stacking technology for
use in Monsanto¹s core research crops.
Under the agreement, Monsanto obtains non-exclusive rights to use
Chromatin¹s mini-chromosome stacking technology in corn, cotton, soybeans,
and canola. Chromatin retains the right to broadly license its enabling
technology so that other companies and third parties can benefit from this
technology as well.
Monsanto and Chromatin scientists will carry out a three-year joint research
program that may be extended, as necessary, to complete the technology
development. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
³Monsanto is a leading agricultural biotechnology company. Their crop and
trait development capabilities make them an ideal partner for advancing
Chromatin¹s gene stacking technology,² said Daphne Preuss, Chromatin¹s Chief
Scientific Officer and President.
³Monsanto and Chromatin structured this non-exclusive partnership to
facilitate the development of Chromatin¹s technology for commercial and
humanitarian uses,² Preuss said. ³Chromatin is pleased to partner with a
company that shares its goal of broadly expanding mini-chromosome
capabilities .²
Chromatin¹s mini-chromosome technology offers one way to stack multiple
value-added traits by using a single heritable piece of the plant¹s own DNA
to deliver several genes. Monsanto will evaluate Chromatin¹s stacking
technology for use in conjunction with its existing technologies to explore
more efficient methods of stacking traits.
³Farmers are increasingly turning to stacked trait technologies so that they
can get more benefits out of a single seed,² said Robert T. Fraley, Ph.D.,
Monsanto executive vice president and chief technology officer. ³Chromatin¹s
expertise in gene stacking technology will be an important resource as we
look to deliver a broader variety of both input traits such as insect and
weed control and beneficial consumer traits to improve nutrition of stacked
trait options to our farmer customers .²
³ We want farmers to have access to all of our new traits in the best
available germplasm - along with the weed and insect protection they enjoy
today,² Fraley said. ³ By coupling Chromatin¹s unique technology with our
in-house resources, we believe we'll be able to deliver these high-value
trait stacks faster and more efficiently in the future .²
About Chromatin:
Chromatin is a privately-held company that pioneered the development of
plant mini-chromosomes. Its patented gene stacking technology can be used
in any plant to accelerate product pipelines, reduce production costs, and
enable novel plant-based products. Chromatin¹s mini-chromosome technology
can be used to deliver genes that benefit the agricultural, nutritional,
energy, pharmaceutical, and chemical sectors.
For additional information, visit www.chromatininc.com.
About Monsanto:
Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions
and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality.
For more information, please visit: www.monsanto.com.
Monsanto Contact: Sara Duncan (314-694-2729)
Chromatin Contact: Daphne Preuss (312-455-1935 ext. 24)
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