MBI receives patent for bioherbicide active ingredient

Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc. (MBI), a leading global provider of bio-based pest management products for the agricultural and water treatment markets, recently announced the issuance of a patent by the United States Patent & Trademark Office for thaxtomin, the active ingredient in a new bioherbicide being planned for market introduction. Thaxtomin joins sarmentine, which received a patent in June 2013, as two of the company’s herbicidal active ingredients currently in late stage development.

The patent covers thaxtomin as a pre- and post-emergent herbicide active against most common weeds in cereal (e.g., corn, wheat, rice, or sorghum), turf grass and pasture grass systems. As a natural, non-toxic compound, thaxtomin can be used for control of grass, broadleaf and sedge weeds in the agricultural (conventional and organic), golf course, residential and commercial turf, and consumer home and garden markets. Dr. Phyllis Himmel, VP of Research and Development, commented, “We are very excited about the broad activity of thaxtomin, either alone or in a synergistic tank mix. With two herbicide active ingredients now patented we are optimistic that MBI will be able to fill the gaps in the underserved bioherbicide product category.”

Dr. Alison Stewart, Chief Science Officer, adds “Receiving two patents within two months is a clear result of MBI’s two-pronged development strategy of proprietary discovery and in-licensed technologies. Sarmentine, our first bioherbicide active ingredient patented in June, was a MBI in-house discovery while thaxtomin is an in-licensed compound.”