January 23, 1997
SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Mycogen Corporation (Nasdaq: MYCO) has filed suit in Federal District Court here, claiming that a new bioinsecticide developed by Ecogen Inc. (Nasdaq: EECN) infringes Mycogen patents covering Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) gene technology.
Mycogen's complaint states that Ecogen's Lepinox™ bioinsecticide for fall armyworm control in sweet corn and other crops is based on a protein produced by a microorganism genetically engineered with a "cry1F" Bt gene for which Mycogen holds two U.S. patents (Nos. 5,188,960 and 5,126,133).
Mycogen Crop Protection Executive Vice President & General Manager Andrew C. Barnes said that Mycogen has developed a new product for fall armyworm control based on the same Bt protein and will soon file an application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to approve it for commercial sale.
"This unique and highly specific active ingredient and the technology used to isolate and produce it were discovered and developed by Mycogen," Barnes said. "We are seeking damages and an injunction to bar Ecogen from any use of our proprietary Bt technology."
Mycogen holds more than 60 U.S. patents covering Bt genes and proteins and the CellCap® encapsulation system and other technology it uses to develop bioinsecticide sprays and transgenic crops with Bt-based pest-resistance. Mycogen Crop Protection currently markets three Bt bioinsecticides and four products based on fatty acids.
Mycogen is a diversified agricultural biotechnology company that develops and markets technology-based products and provides crop protection services to control agricultural pests and improve food and fiber production. Mycogen Seeds develops and markets planting seeds for improved crop varieties with genetically enhanced insect-resistance and other value-added characteristics. Mycogen Crop Protection develops and markets environmentally compatible biopesticides and provides crop protection services to growers of high value crops.
Michael Sund
Mycogen Corporation
(619) 453-8030
Last updated 1/23/97 by [email protected]