Eden Research Plc
("Eden" or "Company")
Master Encapsulation Patent Formally Granted in Europe
Eden Research plc (AIM: EDEN), the AIM listed agrochemical and encapsulation development company, announces that the European Patent Office has formally granted a master encapsulation patent (number 05744354) to the Company.
The encapsulation system is owned outright by Eden and is already granted in New Zealand, Australia, China, Mexico, Singapore and South Africa. The benefit of having the patent formally granted is that it gives the security of full patent protection to existing and prospective licensees in Europe, one of the Company's key territories.
This patent covers the use of the Company's core technology as part of a composition which, in particular, is effective in controlling fungal and bacterial plant pathogens (the first Notice of Acceptance, as announced on 9 November 2012, was for flying insects and arachnids). In addition to covering agrochemical applications of Eden's technology, particularly in providing a safe, effective and environmentally friendly alternative to existing chemical pesticides used to protect vegetables, orchards and glasshouse crops, the patent is also applicable to other areas such as the medical and veterinary sectors.
Clive Newitt, Managing Director of Eden comments: "We are delighted to announce this latest grant of patent from the European Patent Office. This is a significant event which reinforces the value of our intellectual property portfolio and is important for Eden as it is our master patent in a key territory."
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Eden has developed a terpene-based encapsulation technology which uses yeast cells to deliver a slow release of natural compounds for agricultural and non-agricultural uses.
Terpenes are natural compounds which function as defence mechanisms in many plant groups and are released in response to infection, attack by pests, stress or mechanical injury. Terpenes are already widely used in the food flavouring, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.
Historically, terpenes have had limited commercial use in the agrochemical sector due to their volatility, phytotoxicity and poor solubility. Eden's platform encapsulation technology provides a unique, environmentally friendly solution to these problems and enables terpenes to be used as effective, low-risk agrochemicals.
The next-generation encapsulation technology, licensed from University of Massachusetts Medical School ("UMMS") recently, provides significant additional benefits to the original system as it allows release to be controlled by environmental factors rather than relying solely upon the chemistry of the substances used. This means that there is more control over the timing of the release of the active compound being carried allowing for further reduction in chemicals applied whilst ensuring maximum effectiveness.
The UMMS license also significantly expands the potential use of the Eden technology in non-agricultural applications such as health and beauty, cosmetics and animal health.
For more information about Eden, please visit www.edenresearch.com
