Hexima Ltd · ASX:HXL
Hexima — Shareholder Meeting (November 2012)
20 slides from Hexima's shareholder meeting presentation, Nov 20, 2012
Slide 1: Annual General Meeting 2012
Annual General Meeting 2012 20 November 2012 Professor Marilyn Anderson Chief Science Officer 1
Slide 2: Major projects
Major projects Control of fungal diseases– corn, soybean, wheat Insect control MGEV - multigene expression vehicle for gene stacking in biotech crops Pharmaceutical applications 2
Slide 3: The market for biotech crops is still growing
The market for biotech crops is still growing Corn and soybean are the largest biotech crops globally (2011) Biotech crop Global biotech area 2011 (2010) Soybean 47% 75.4 mHa (73.3 mHa) Corn 32% 51.0 mHa (46.8 mHa) Cotton 15% 24.7mHa (21.1 mHa) Canola 5% 8.2 mHa (7.0 mHa) The market for biotech
Slide 4: Why fungal diseases?
Why fungal diseases? Fungal diseases are amongst the most serious threats to food security Pennisi (2010) Science, 327, 804 We are focusing on diseases of corn, soybean and wheat Diplodia ear rot In North America, fungal diseases reduce corn yields by 10- 12% and cost about US $8 billion annua
Slide 5: Pioneer collaboration-disease resistant corn
Pioneer collaboration-disease resistant corn Production of transgenic corn with resistance to fungal diseases using genes encoding antifungal proteins (AFPs) Discovery Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 Identify genes Proof of Large scale Trials of traits in Commercial- for improved concept. transfor
Slide 6: Milestones - DuPont/Pioneer collaboration
Milestones - DuPont/Pioneer collaboration Resistance to fungal disease in corn DISCOVERY PHASE 1 PHASES 2-4 GENE DISCOVERY & OPTIMISATION TRAIT VALIDATION Gene discovery Gene Corn transformation (AFP selection) optimisation & proof of concept Field trials etc for corn in glasshouse Transfer seed to
Slide 7: Disease project- achievements to date: Gene discovery and AFP selection
Disease project- achievements to date Gene discovery and AFP selection Our first generation leads were members of the plant defensin family We have identified new molecules that enhance the activity of defensins by several fold We have a strong IP position on these discoveries We have veri
Slide 8: Disease project- achievements to date: Corn transformation
Disease project- achievements to date Corn transformation Corn transformation facility is operating at full capacity In August this year we produced our 10,000th transgenic corn plant 8
Slide 9: Disease project- achievements to date: Assessment of transgenic plants
Disease project- achievements to date Assessment of transgenic plants Good expression of AFPs in transgenic corn plants with no adverse affects on the plants Bioassays to assess efficacy for disease control have been running at capacity for 12 month 9
Slide 10: Disease project- achievements to date: AFP combinations enhance resistance
Disease project- achievements to date Several AFP combinations have produced enhanced disease resistance against the 2 major pathogens of corn in glasshouse bioassays Seed from plants with the best disease resistance will be transferred to Pioneer for testing in the field over the next two growi
Slide 11: Results are feeding back into the program
Results are feeding back into the program Constructs and Gene Discovery Bioassays Plant Analysis Knowledge gained from disease bioassays on transgenic corn is informing our gene discovery program New and improved AFPs have been identified and transferred into corn
Slide 12: Soybeans
Soybeans Last year Hexima announced that the Company and Pioneer had formally commenced the soybean disease program Pioneer has produced transgenic soybean in their US facilities and has started testing for disease resistance The most promising lines have been selected for field testing next y
Slide 13: Field Trial Services
Field Trial Services Hexima has expanded its relationship with DuPont Pioneer in Australia Hexima provides field trial management services for Pioneer’s GM OptiGly canola field sites around Australia The relationship provides an opportunity to leverage field trial management skills built up ov
Slide 14: Wheat
Wheat Last year Monsanto undertook a research license and commercial option over Hexima’s AFPs In 2012 they started producing transgenic wheat with these AFPs These plants will be assessed for enhanced resistance to major fungal diseases Hexima is delivering on its strategy of leveraging the
Slide 15: Insects
Insects Insect protection is one of the most valuable traits in biotech crops Over the last 2 years insects have emerged in North and South America and Asia that are resistant to the current technology This has created opportunities for Hexima’s insect programme We are negotiating a new part
Slide 16: Patent Applications Lodged & Granted
Patent Applications Lodged & Granted 150 125 100 75 50 25 0 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 Applications Granted Patents 16
Slide 17: Intellectual Property- new patent applications
Intellectual Property- new patent applications Agricultural Anti Pathogenic Agents – International PCT Patent Application filed on 7 February 2012 Pharmaceutical Applications Novel forms of Plant Defensins – International PCT Patent Application filed on 19 October 2012 June 2011 Novel Plan
Slide 18: Consolidation of all teams at La Trobe
Consolidation of all teams at La Trobe In 2012, the U. Melb team moved to La Trobe University Research laboratories are housed in the La Trobe Institute of Molecular Science 18
Slide 19: Thank you to our team leaders
Thank you to our team leaders Disease program– Nicole van der Weerden, Simon Poon, James McKenna, Vijay Kaul Insect program-Kerry Dunse, Jennifer Fox Glasshouse management- Gianna Kalc, Bruce McGinness Pharmaceutical - Mark Hulett Intellectual property - Susanna Herd 19
Slide 20: Thank you to all our staff and students
Thank you to all our staff and students 20