Icoria, Inc. Granted Patent for Methods in Identifying Fungicide Gene Targets

Icoria, Inc. has received a U.S. patent for their methods in identifying inhibitors of asparagine synthase as antibiotics, a novel gene target for antibiotic development in a biochemical pathway by which fungi produce asparagine. This patent covers methods that potentially increase the probability of discovering fungicides that affect this pathway. The discovery of chemical compounds using this patented methodology may lead to the development of new fungicides with low toxicity profiles. Since 2001, Icoria has filed for patent protection on 37 fungicide gene targets in over 20 recognized biological pathways.

Key Takeaways:

• Icoria, Inc. has been granted U.S. Patent No. 6,852,484 for their methods in identifying inhibitors of asparagine synthase as antibiotics.
• The patent covers the discovery of a novel gene target for antibiotic development in a biochemical pathway by which fungi produce asparagine.
• The methods potentially increase the probability that fungicides could be found that affect this pathway, leading to the development of new fungicides with low toxicity profiles.
• Keith Davis, PhD, vice president, agricultural biotechnology, stated that the development of new fungicides represents a promising opportunity for Icoria due to the increasing rate of resistance to existing products.
• Since 2001, Icoria has filed for patent protection on 37 fungicide gene targets in more than 20 recognized biological pathways.
• The TAG-KO technology, developed by Icoria, has driven the success of their fungicide target discovery and development program.
• Icoria is a biotech company dedicated to deciphering the complexity of biological processes through the application of systems biology to identify biomarkers for drug discovery and development, diagnostics, and to develop novel agrichemicals.

Statistics:

• Icoria has filed for patent protection on 37 fungicide gene targets since 2001.
• Icoria has developed over 20 recognized biological pathways related to fungicide target discovery and development.
• The TAG-KO technology has driven Icoria's fungicide target discovery and development program to success.

Sources:

• Health & Medicine Week editors, "Icoria, Inc. Granted Patent for Methods in Identifying Fungicide Gene Targets," Health & Medicine Week, 2005.
• Icoria, Inc., provided quote from Keith Davis, PhD, Vice President, Agricultural Biotechnology.