CAC Nantong: cyproflanilide, a created novel insecticide with unique action mechanism

Editor：Mickey Shan

Feature : Showcase of China’s ″Specialized and Novel″ crop protection products/technologies/applications

▋ Special sponsor: Lansheng Biotechy 

▋ A total of 11 enterprises are introduced in this series; The Feature was first published in the latest "2023 China Pesticide Industry Watch" 

The overall industrial upgrading of Chinese manufacture industry happens to coincides with the unprecedented changes in the last 100 years. 

In this new era full of opportunities and policy support, the Chinese pesticide enterprises have worked hard to achieve constant technical breakthroughs via innovation and upgrading, as based on the experiences gained in the past decades. Some enterprises have so far made preliminary achievements, having formed an advanced and sophisticated technology and product cluster. 

In this Feature, we have selected 11 Chinese pesticide manufacturers that are characterized with professionalism, intensification, specialization and novelty, which is a presentation of Chinese pesticide enterprise’s research and development of new products, breakthroughs in technical innovation, upgrading of type of formulations and continued exploration of applications. The publication will exhibit the achievements in each individual sector, which is internationally advanced, revealing the new competitiveness of Chinese pesticide industry.

▉Series of special topics are released in succession → specially planned by AgroPages

• Lansheng Biotech：Green chemical innovation drives fine chemical production to reach a new level

• Eastlake High-Tech: Application of microreaction, continuous flow technologies to improve quality of plant growth regulators

• Qilu, industry leader of high quality spinosad

• KingAgroot – Innovative flagship integrating compound creation and biotechnical breeding

• CAC Nantong: Cyproflanilide, a created novel insecticide with unique action mechanism

• Yonon: Production of L-glufosinate on multienzyme

• Lier Chemical: 20,000-ton L-glufosinate production capacity to start running soon

• Red Sun: Diquat dichloride aims to create new burndown herbicide market trend

• Fosetyl-aluminium: Focusing on European wine grape market, Limin’s product concept upgraded

• Pilarbio: Working imaginatively on CS – an innovative cutting-edge formulation

• Chengdu New Sun: Making breakthroughs in industrialized application of plant growth regulation coronatine, first time in the world

 CAC Nantong: cyproflanilide, a created novel insecticide with unique action mechanism 

Cyproflanilide is the first novel insecticide with independent intellectual property rights created by CAC Nantong Chemical Co.,Ltd (CAC Nantong), under the R&D code of CAC-I-785, the CAS registration number of 2375110-88-4 and the molecular formula of C₂₈H₁₇BrF₁₂N₂O₂.

Based on the broad spectrum, high activity and novel action mechanism of diamide compound, the researchers of CAC Nantong have made its systematic study. In the process of molecular designing, the cyclopropyl methyl in the structure of cyclaniliprole was brought into the skeleton of diamide. Through multiple rounds of optimization, cyproflanilide, a novel compound of high insecticidal activity and low toxicity on an aquatic organism, was discovered.

  Cyproflanilide Creation Philosophy

Cyproflanilide has a unique action mechanism. According to IRAC, it is classified as group 30, a γ- GAB-gated chloride channel allosteric regulator. It is highly efficient and low toxic, with a broad insecticidal spectrum, good penetrability, fast acting and long-lasting effect, capable of effective prevention and control of Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and Thysanoptera pests.

Broad insecticidal spectrum: Cyproflanilide can be used to control Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and Thysanoptera pests. It has excellent control over Lepidoptera Chilo suppressalis, rice leaf roller, beet armyworm, Plutella xylostella, Spodoptera frugiperda, apple leaf roller, Coleoptera flea beetle and Thysanoptera thrips, especially the resistant Chilo suppressalis. It is a sharp tool for the resistance management of Chilo suppressalis.

High biological activity and long-lasting effect: Cyproflanilide has excellent stomach toxicity, contact toxicity, good penetrability and systemicity. It is fast acting with quick effect and its use at low dosage offers excellent control effect. At the dosage of 15-60 gai/hm² against Chilo suppressalis, especially the resistant Chilo suppressalis, it offers excellent control effect. At the dosage of 15-30 gai/hm², it gives an excellent control effect against rice leaf roller, with a long-lasting effect.

Crop safety: Cyproflanilide is safe for crops and can be broadly applied to rice, corn, cotton, soybean, fruit tree and vegetable; safe for non-target organism.

For resistance management: There is no cross-resistance between cyproflanilide and the existing insecticide varieties such as chlorantraniliprole and abamectin. Chlorantraniliprole is also effective in controlling rice stem borer and rice leaf roller. It is similarly effective against diamondback moth, beet armyworm, flea beetle and thrips, and can be used to control resistant pests on vegetables and fruit trees.

Cyproflanilide’s field effect of control of resistant Chilo suppressalis is remarkable. Trials conducted by CAC Nantong in the regions of Jiangxi and Hunan with high resistance from Chilo suppressalis show that cyproflanilide’s effect of control of Chilo suppressalis at dosage of 30-60 gai/hm² is equivalent to or even better than that of abamectin at 150 gai/hm².

Cooperation between strongers to expand global market share

In 2019, cyproflanilide was granted a Chinese patent (patent number ZL201811555432.3). In the same year, the Chinese common name was approved by the National Pesticide Standardization Committee. In June 2020, the English common ″cyprofranilide″ was ISO approved.

In marketing cyproflanilide, CAC  International opted for cooperation with Syngenta, the global agrochemical giant. In 2020, CAC  International executed a formal contract with Syngenta Group China, having initiated the Cyproflanilide China Strategic Cooperation Program, which is a new cooperation in the development of cyproflanilide. In 2022, CAC  International and Syngenta Crop Protection again signed the Cyproflanilide China Strategic Cooperation Agreement. As a leader in global crop protection, Syngenta is deeply involved in the global crop protection market for long years, possessing rich experience and leading advantages in new product development, promotion, marketing, sales and overall operation.

At present, cyproflanilide registration is progressing speedily in China. The registration is expected to be granted in 2024, followed by a market launch. Launching the product will provide a solution to the pain point of the nonavailability of the right products in the Chilo suppressalis-resistant regions. With the advantageous cooperation and the professional service of the work teams of both parties, cyproflanilide is about to play a decisive role in the Chinese crop protection market, which is expected to hit a sale of RMB1 billion.

The overseas marketing of cyproflanilide is also going on simultaneously. The compound patent has been filed in 10-plus countries or regions including the United States, Europe and Japan. In the meantime, CAC Nantong has made arrangements for patenting the cyproflanilide mixture, use, formulation, process, crystal form and intermediates, having formed cyproflanilide’s complete patent protection coverage whilst development, registration, and market launch in major overseas markets are in preparation.

CAC Nantong has made remarkable achievements in product innovation, which decides the company’s leading position in the segment market. The successful creation of cyproflanilide well proves the company’s capability to achieve the development and market launch of products of independent intellectual property rights, which enables the company’s leap forward in development and a significantly increased industry position versus its past post-patent business operation status.

This article was initially published in AgroPages' 2023 China Pesticide Industry Watch magazine.