Biotalys Partners with 21st.BIO to Scale Up Biocontrol Production
Biotalys announces a strategic partnership with Danish company 21st.BIO to accelerate the production of its protein-based biocontrol solutions. This collaboration aims to manufacture Biotalys' AGROBODY products at competitive costs on a commercial scale, according to the press release.
Strategic Collaboration for Enhanced Production Capabilities
The partnership involves the use of 21st.BIO's precision fermentation platform, part of which technology is licensed from Novonesis, the company states. This platform relies on production strains that have been refined over more than four decades and are already commercially utilized. The collaboration will integrate 21st.BIO's capabilities with previous joint work conducted by Biotalys and Novonesis. The stated goal is to expand process development options and support efficient large-scale manufacturing of Biotalys' biocontrol products. Kevin Helash, CEO of Biotalys, describes this partnership as a significant strategic step to strengthen the technical foundation of the AGROBODY platform. He notes that this alliance aims to solidify the necessary foundations for developing a differentiated product portfolio.
End of Previous Collaboration and Future Commercial Strategies
In connection with this new agreement, Biotalys and Novonesis will terminate their collaboration, the press release indicates. Biotalys is continuing discussions with global manufacturing and distribution partners to secure its commercialization strategy. The company plans to finalize all key agreements before the launch of EVOCA NG, its first commercial biofungicide aimed at combating botrytis and powdery mildew. According to the group, the product's registration is expected between 2028-2029 in the United States and 2029-2030 in the European Union. The product targets a combined market of approximately $1.2 billion in the US, Europe, and Brazil. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved EVOCA, the first-generation version, on December 2, 2025. This approval paves the way for the regulatory filing of EVOCA NG, which contains the same active ingredient.
Financial Outlook and Funding Strategies
Biotalys confirms it has sufficient liquidity until May 2026, as previously announced. The company is considering additional equity financing from institutional investors or other means to fund the path to commercialization of EVOCA NG and the ongoing development of its AGROBODY biocontrol portfolio. According to the press release, this financing could take the form of a fundraising from institutional investors, including major existing shareholders, based on exemptions to public offerings provided by applicable laws. Biotalys, founded in 2013 as a spin-off from the Flemish Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), is listed on Euronext Brussels. The Danish company 21st.BIO, established in 2020, operates from Copenhagen and Davis in California, focusing on the development of industrial production technologies for the food, agricultural, and biomaterials sectors.
