KALAMAZOO, MI--(Marketwired - October 21, 2015) - Vestaron Corporation's bioinsecticide technology is the recipient of the inaugural Bernard Blum Award for Novel Biocontrol Solutions, presented this week at the opening ceremony of the ABIM Congress in Basel, Switzerland, the largest biopesticide industry gathering in the world.
The Bernard Blum Award recognizes innovations that have a high impact in management of pests or diseases while having a low impact on human health and the environment. Judges unanimously selected Vestaron's entry as the leading submission out of 13 entries.
Vestaron received the award for its Spear™ product line, a series of bioinsecticides derived from spider peptides with activity on Lepidopteran, Coleopteran, and several other classes of insects. The Spear product line also uses the addition of Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) to improve performance as a part of an integrated pest management system.
Dr. Bob Kennedy, Chief Science Officer of Vestaron, accepted the award on Monday.
"I am pleased to accept this prestigious award and am proud of the excellent work of the Vestaron team," said Dr. Kennedy.
"On behalf of the entire Vestaron team we gratefully accept this honor. Bob's leadership of the R&D team is evident and the execution of the science behind this groundbreaking new product has been exceptional. This award further verifies the importance of Vestaron's discovery platform for new bioinsecticides with the efficacy and safety that these products bring to the industry," said Dr. John Sorenson, Director and CEO of Vestaron.
About Vestaron Corporation
Vestaron Corporation exploits the natural insecticidal properties of a class of peptides which have potent insect killing potential, but which are safe to humans, birds, fish and the environment. These peptides utilize new modes of action that have never before been used for insect control, and therefore do not suffer from insect resistance. In addition to bioinsecticdes, the Company is also leveraging its peptide technology with the development of traits and synthetics that also have a favorable safety spectrum.
Vestaron is a venture-backed company that recently closed an oversubscribed Series C round of financing, totaling $14M.
More information at www.vestaron.com.
Note to editors: Photos of Dr. Bob Kennedy and Dr. John Sorenson available upon request.
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