NewLeaf Symbiotics announces acquisition of Intuitive Genomics

Combination of biologicals and big data creates opportunities for investors

NewLeaf Symbiotics Inc. an agricultural biotech company, today announced the acquisition of Intuitive Genomics Inc., a leader in the design and implementation of custom bioinformatics solutions.

The acquisition of Intuitive Genomics' elite computational and bioinformatics capabilities compliments NewLeaf's R&D and product pipeline and positions the rapidly growing company as a top player in the burgeoning biologicals category.

NewLeaf Symbiotics is researching and commercializing naturally beneficial plant bacteria for crop health and protection. The use of natural biologicals to control plant disease and increase crop yield is one of the most promising opportunities to address the rapidly expanding global agricultural productivity gap.

"This is a major step forward for NewLeaf. A deep genomics and bioinformatics capability will be key to unlocking the full potential of our Prescriptive Biologics- platform, R&D breakthroughs and the positive field results we are demonstrating," said NewLeaf CEO Tom Laurita. "The intellectual property potential created by this acquisition is substantial. And the ability to attract scientists of this caliber to our company is validation of NewLeaf's strategic direction."

Both companies are located at the BioResearch and Development Growth (BRDG) Park at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Intuitive Genomics co-founders, James C. Carrington Ph.D., president of the Danforth Center will join the NewLeaf Science Advisory Board; Todd Mockler, Ph.D., associate member and Geraldine and Robert Virgil Distinguished Investigator at the Danforth Center will become vice-president of genomics at NewLeaf; and Doug Bryant, Ph.D., director, Bioinformatics Core at the Danforth Center will become vice-president of bioinformatics at NewLeaf.

"This is exactly the sort of collaboration the Danforth Plant Science Center seeks to foster. Here you have two locally incubated companies, each of which is a leader in its field, working in close proximity and recognizing the value in joining forces," Carrington remarked.

"We have been pushing the envelope in bioinformatics for the past several years and have concluded that there is tremendous potential in biologicals. This is clear when you consider the recent acquisitions by ag industry giants in this area, and the recent high impact studies on both human and plant microbiomes," Mockler said. "We surveyed the environment and NewLeaf Symbiotics is the most exciting opportunity we have seen for Intuitive Genomics," Bryant added.

Source: Donald Danforth Plant Science Center