MustGrow Biologics and Bayer Sign Commercial License Agreement for Biocontrol Technologies in Europe, Middle East and Africa
- Bayer’s commercial license covers soil applications of MustGrow’s mustard-based biocontrol technologies in Europe, Middle East and Africa.
- MustGrow to receive upfront license fees and milestone payments, royalties, and manufacturing sales linked to development and commercial achievements.
SASKATOON, Canada, December 11, 2023 – MustGrow Biologics Corp. (TSXV:MGRO) (OTC:MGROF) (FRA:0C0) (“MustGrow”) is pleased to announce the signing of a collaboration agreement (the “Agreement”) with Bayer AG (BAYN) (“Bayer”) covering soil applications of MustGrow’s mustard-based biocontrol technologies in Europe, Middle East and Africa, excluding home and garden, turf and ornamental applications.
Under the terms of the Agreement, MustGrow will receive an initial upfront payment as well as additional payments linked to the achievement of certain business milestones. Upon the commencement of commercial sales, MustGrow will also be entitled to fees from royalties and manufacturing sales. Additionally, Bayer will be responsible for regulatory and market development work (the “Development Work“) in the respective field of use necessary to commercialize MustGrow’s mustard-based biocontrol technologies, including the development of the formulated product, conducting relevant regulatory data studies for regulatory submissions, filing regulatory submissions, registration with relevant regulatory authorities, and support, marketing, and commercial sales activities. MustGrow anticipates that the value of the upfront, milestone payments and Development Work could approximate USD $35 to $40 million over the next several years (not including additional fees from royalties and manufacturing sales).
“Biologicals are part of an exciting frontier that offers new solutions for the challenges that growers face across the world,” said Benoit Hartmann, Head of Biologics for Bayer. “We’re committed to working with leading innovators like MustGrow to accelerate the development of innovative biological solutions that provide safe, sustainable options for farmers and are looking forward to continuing our work together.”
Pursuant to the Agreement, Bayer has also been granted a right-of-first-negotiation for a license to use MustGrow’s mustard-based biocontrol technologies for use in bananas in particular applications, excluding postharvest applications. MustGrow expects to continue collaborating with Bayer to consider other potential applications of MustGrow’s mustard-based biocontrol technologies, including potentially testing in regions not currently covered by the Agreement.
Sustainable innovations and green technologies are necessary to ensure agricultural production continues to address food safety and security as well as soil health. MustGrow’s rapidly developing technologies are focused on sustainable, safe, and effective, organic plant-based crop protection technologies that harness the mustard seed’s natural defense mechanism to treat diseases, pests and weeds. MustGrow’s technology has shown consistent efficacy in multiple global regions, in multiple crops, in multiple applications, over multiple years. The Agreement between Bayer and MustGrow demonstrates the importance of innovation in sustainable technologies in agricultural regions around the world.
“MustGrow is thrilled to commercialize our technologies with Bayer in three important food producing regions. Through Bayer’s research, development and commercial teams we have seen a rapid advancement in our product and market knowledge in the last two years,” remarked Corey Giasson, CEO of MustGrow. “Working with the leader in global crop science and sustainable agriculture is a tremendous opportunity for our organization to see our mustard plant-based technologies commercialized globally.”
About MustGrow
MustGrow is an agriculture biotech company developing organic biocontrol and biofertility products by harnessing the natural defense mechanism and organic materials of the mustard plant to sustainably protect the global food supply and help farmers feed the world. MustGrow and its leading global partners — Bayer, Janssen PMP (pharmaceutical division of Johnson & Johnson), Sumitomo Corporation, and Univar Solutions’ NexusBioAg — are developing mustard-based organic solutions for applications in biocontrol to potentially replace harmful synthetic chemicals in preplant soil treatment and weed control, to postharvest disease control and food preservation. Bayer has an commercial agreement to develop and commercialize MustGrow’s biocontrol soil applications in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Concurrently, with new formulations derived from food-grade mustard, the Company is pursuing the adoption and use of its first registered and OMRI Listed® product, TerraSanteTM, in key U.S. states. Over 150 independent tests have been completed, validating MustGrow’s safe and effective approach to crop and food protection and yield enhancements. Pending regulatory approval, MustGrow’s patented liquid technologies could be applied through injection, standard drip or spray equipment, improving functionality and performance features. MustGrow has approximately 50.1 million basic common shares issued and outstanding and 55.0 million shares fully diluted. For further details, please visit www.mustgrow.ca.
Contact Information
Corey Giasson
Director & CEO
Phone: +1-306-668-2652
info@mustgrow.ca
MustGrow Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements included in this news release constitute “forward-looking statements” which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect the results, performance or achievements of MustGrow.
Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Examples of forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements MustGrow makes regarding: MustGrow receiving upfront license fees and milestone payments, royalties, and manufacturing sales linked to development and commercial achievements; whether and if certain development and commercial achievements, that are a pre-condition to MustGrow receiving certain fees from royalties and manufacturing sales, will occur; the anticipated value of potential aggregate payments and development capital being USD $35 to $40 million; whether and how Bayer completes any regulatory and market development work; and MustGrow’s expectation to continue collaborating with Bayer to consider other potential applications of MustGrow’s mustard-based biocontrol technologies, including testing in regions not currently covered by the Agreement.
Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of MustGrow to differ materially from those discussed in such forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, MustGrow. Important factors that could cause MustGrow’s actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include market receptivity to investor relations activities as well as those risks described in more detail in MustGrow’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2022 and other continuous disclosure documents filed by MustGrow with the applicable securities regulatory authorities which are available at www.sedar.com. Readers are referred to such documents for more detailed information about MustGrow, which is subject to the qualifications, assumptions and notes set forth therein.
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