AgPlenus Announces Discovery of a New Mode of Action for Fungicides Against Wheat Disease

Rhea-AI Summary

AgPlenus, a subsidiary of Evogene (NASDAQ: EVGN), announced the discovery of a novel Mode of Action (MoA) against Zymoseptoria tritici, a fungal pathogen causing Septoria tritici blotch (STB) in wheat crops. The company has identified effective compounds through virtual screening and experimental testing.

The disease represents a significant market opportunity, with over 70% of wheat fungicides in Europe targeting Zymoseptoria tritici, worth more than 1.2 billion euros annually. Using their TargetSelector™ and PointHit™ tools, AgPlenus identified target proteins and inhibitory molecules, which showed promising results in laboratory and greenhouse trials.

The program is advancing to the next phase, utilizing the ActiveSearch™ tool to optimize the discovered molecules and explore potential collaborations for developing a novel fungicide.

Positive

• Discovery of new Mode of Action against major wheat pathogen
• Successful identification of effective compounds through testing
• Large market opportunity (€1.2B annually in Europe)
• Positive laboratory and greenhouse trial results

Negative

• None.

Initial fungicidally active compounds already discovered

REHOVOT, Israel, Feb. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AgPlenus Ltd., a global leader in designing and developing novel sustainable crop protection products and a subsidiary of Evogene Ltd. (Nasdaq: EVGN) (TASE: EVGN), today announced the breakthrough discovery of a novel Mode of Action (MoA) active against Zymoseptoria tritici, the fungal pathogen responsible for Septoria tritici blotch (STB), one of the most devastating diseases affecting wheat crops globally. Through extensive virtual screening of large compound libraries and subsequent experimental testing, the company has already identified promising compounds (small molecules) that effectively inhibit fungal growth.

 

Zymoseptoria tritici causes widespread STB, a main cause of global crop loss in wheat production. In Europe alone, over 70% of fungicides used in wheat are against Zymoseptoria tritici, supporting a market of more than 1.2 billion euros annually^[1]. With the growing resistance of fungi to existing fungicide solutions, the need for a new MoA is crucial.

AgPlenus initially launched its Zymoseptoria program utilizing the advanced TargetSelector™ tool to identify target proteins that are essential for the fungus' vitality. Subsequently, the company employed the PointHit™ tool to discover chemical molecules that inhibit these target proteins. The platform predicted a set of relevant molecules that were rigorously tested in two controlled environments: laboratory and greenhouse trials. Results from the greenhouse trials demonstrated the efficacy of these molecules in managing Zymoseptoria.

With these encouraging preliminary results, the program is now moving into its next phase, which involves further optimization of the discovered molecules using the ActiveSearch™ tool. The aim is to enhance their performance and explore potential collaborations and further development to potentially generate a novel effective fungicide.

"I am encouraged by the results obtained by utilizing the various tools in ChemPass AI for Ag in our Zymoseptoria program and the progress the program has made," said Dr. Dan Gelvan, CEO of AgPlenus. "With increasing fungicide resistance posing challenges to wheat yields worldwide, the identification of these novel targets is timely."

The validation of this new MoA protein target, combined with the identification of fungicidally effective compounds active through the new MoA, strengthens AgPlenus' position at the forefront of developing novel crop-protection solutions. This advancement aligns with the company's mission to provide innovative, sustainable solutions for crop protection.

About AgPlenus Ltd.

AgPlenus is a platform company designing effective and sustainable crop protection products. At AgPlenus, we are solving pesticide resistance by infusing the discovery process with predictive biology and artificial intelligence. AgPlenus leverages the ChemPass AI tech-engine, licensed from Evogene, to discover and bring to market effective and sustainable crop protection products. Our target-based approach allows us to reduce risk and increase efficiency, so that we can deliver on our promise to defeat global pesticide resistance. AgPlenus has ongoing collaborations with industry leaders such as Corteva. AgPlenus is a subsidiary of Evogene Ltd.
For more information, please visit www.agplenus.com

About Evogene Ltd.:

Evogene (Nasdaq: EVGN, TASE: EVGN) is a computational biology company aiming to revolutionize the development of life-science based products by utilizing cutting edge technologies to increase the probability of success while reducing development time and cost. Evogene established three unique tech-engines - MicroBoost AI, ChemPass AI and GeneRator AI – leveraging Big Data and Artificial Intelligence and incorporating deep multidisciplinary understanding in life sciences. Each tech-engine is focused on the discovery and development of products based on one of the following core components: microbes (MicroBoost AI), small molecules (ChemPass AI), and genetic elements (GeneRator AI).
Evogene uses its tech-engines to develop products through subsidiaries and strategic partnerships. Evogene's subsidiaries currently utilize the tech-engines to develop human microbiome-based therapeutics by Biomica, ag-biologicals by Lavie Bio, ag-chemicals by AgPlenus, and castor varieties, for the biofuel and other industries, by Casterra.
For more information, please visit: www.evogene.com.

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" relating to future events. These statements may be identified by words such as "may", "could", "expects", "hopes" "intends", "anticipates", "plans", "believes", "scheduled", "estimates", "demonstrates" or words of similar meaning. For example, Evogene and its subsidiaries are using forward-looking statement in this press release when it discusses the optimization of the discovered molecules and further development to generate a novel effective fungicide, Ag Plenus success in the development of novel crop-protection solutions. Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions, describe opinions about future events, involve certain risks and uncertainties which are difficult to predict and are not guarantees of future performance. Therefore, actual future results, performance or achievements of Evogene and its subsidiaries may differ materially from what is expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, many of which are beyond the control of Evogene and its subsidiaries, including, without limitation, the current war between Israel and Hamas and any worsening of the situation in Israel such as further mobilizations or escalation in the northern border of Israel and those risk factors contained in Evogene's reports filed with the applicable securities authority. In addition, Evogene and its subsidiaries rely, and expect to continue to rely, on third parties to conduct certain activities, such as their field-trials and pre-clinical studies, and if these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties, comply with regulatory requirements or meet expected deadlines, Evogene and its subsidiaries may experience significant delays in the conduct of their activities. Evogene and its subsidiaries disclaim any obligation or commitment to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments or changes in expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions.

^[1] TRESEARCH| SUMMER 2019| VOLUME 14: NUMBER 2

Contact: 
ir@evogene.com
Tel: +972-8-9311901   

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SOURCE AgPlenus Ltd.

FAQ

What is the market size for Zymoseptoria tritici fungicides in Europe that EVGN is targeting?

The market for Zymoseptoria tritici fungicides in Europe is worth more than 1.2 billion euros annually, representing over 70% of fungicides used in wheat.

What technology tools did AgPlenus use to discover the new fungicide compounds for EVGN?

AgPlenus used three main tools: TargetSelector™ to identify target proteins, PointHit™ to discover inhibitory molecules, and ActiveSearch™ for molecule optimization.

What testing stages has EVGN's new fungicide completed?

The compounds have successfully completed laboratory and greenhouse trials, demonstrating efficacy in managing Zymoseptoria.

What is the next development phase for EVGN's fungicide program?

The program is moving to molecule optimization using the ActiveSearch™ tool and exploring potential collaborations for further development.