Hexima Ltd · ASX:HXL
Hexima — Shareholder Meeting (November 2010)
26 slides from Hexima's shareholder meeting presentation, Nov 23, 2010
Slide 1: Annual General Meeting
Annual General Meeting 23 November 2010 Professor Marilyn Anderson Chief Science Officer
Slide 2: Growth in world population
Growth in world population World Population (billions) 9.0 billion 2050 AD 10 7.0 million 8 2010 AD 6 2.5 billion 1950 AD 4 0.15 billion 1.3 billion 2000 BC 1860 AD 2 0 2000 BC 0 2050 AD Year World population has increased more than 5 times in 150 years Hexima Limited ©
Slide 3: Can we feed this growing population?
Can we feed this growing population? “Lifting a billion people out of poverty and feeding an extra 2.3 billion by 2050 will require an increase in cereal production by 70%.” Lele, Science (2010),326, 1554, Hexima Limited ©
Slide 4: How do we feed everyone?
How do we feed everyone? “We have about 40 years to radically transform agriculture, to work out how to grow more food without exacerbating environmental problems and to simultaneously cope with climate change” -Godfray, Science 327, 812 (2010) Hexima Limited ©
Slide 5: Major projects
Major projects Disease resistance - corn and soybean (Pioneer) - cotton - canola Insect resistance - Climate Ready grant MGEV-multigene expression vehicle - Research licences with Pioneer and Monsanto Hexima Limited ©
Slide 6: Hexima research
Hexima research Hexima research is contracted to three groups based at The University of Melbourne and La Trobe University Gene discovery – Professor Marilyn Anderson Product development – Dr Robyn Heath Pharmaceutical – Dr Mark Hulett Mark, Robyn & Marilyn Hexima Limited © 6
Slide 7: Disease resistance - corn
Disease resistance - corn • DuPont/Pioneer collaboration • Produce transgenic corn with sustainable resistance/tolerance to fungal diseases using genes encoding antifungal proteins (AFPs) Hexima Limited © 7
Slide 8: Corn diseases
Corn diseases Gibberella stalk rot Diplodia ear rot Yield losses from fungal diseases are in the range of 10-12% annually and cost about US $8 billion in North America. High disease regions can lose 25% of yield. Hexima Limited ©
Slide 9: Corn diseases
Corn diseases Some ear rot fungi produce mycotoxins that contaminate the grain and are hazardous to human and animal health. Gibberella stalk rot Hexima Limited ©
Slide 10: Current management practices for fungal diseases
Current management practices for fungal diseases Fungicides - harsh chemical sprays Breeding for resistance - only possible if resistance genes present in some cultivars Management practices - crop rotation can be costly to farmers Hexima Limited ©
Slide 11: New approaches
New approaches How do plants normally protect themselves against disease? Plants are very efficient chemical factories. They produce natural defence molecules. Plant reproductive structures are an excellent source of natural defence molecules. We have isolated potent fungicides and insecticides from
Slide 12: Pipeline for new gene traits in crops plants
Pipeline for new gene traits in crops plants Discovery Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 Identify genes Proof of Large scale Trials of traits Commercial- for improved concept. transformation. in elite isation, launch. plant traits. Test genes in Glasshouse & germplasm. Broad screens plants. field test
Slide 13: 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 14: Hexima corn disease program
Hexima corn disease program Five teams located at La Trobe University and The University of Melbourne. Gene discovery – Dr. Nicole van der Weerden Gene constructs and plant analysis– Dr.Simon Poon Hexima Limited ©
Slide 15: Hexima corn disease program
Hexima corn disease program Five teams located at La Trobe University and The University of Melbourne. Glasshouse -Mr.Bruce McGinness -Dr.Gianna Kalc Corn transformation -Dr.Vijay Kaul Disease bioassays -Mr.James McKenna Hexima Limited ©
Slide 16: Disease project - achievements to date
Disease project- achievements to date Disease resistance – corn Established skilled, specialist teams. Discovered several new AFPs with activity against corn diseases (new patent application). Discovered new molecules that enhance the activity of the AFPs (2 patent applications). New corn tissue cul
Slide 17: Insect resistance
Insect resistance Proteinase inhibitor technology to target caterpillar pests (major pests globally) Resistance to the Bt-toxins is beginning to emerge More urgent need for new insect control strategies Discovering genes that enhance the insecticidal properties of proteinase inhibitors Supported by
Slide 18: Multi-Gene Expression Vehicles (MGEVs)
Multi-Gene Expression Vehicles (MGEVs) A tool for expressing and stacking small proteins Platform technology for the corn disease program. Allows production of multiple antifungal proteins from one gene Non-exclusive licence with Pioneer and Monsanto MGEV (circular) MGEV (linear) T1 X C1 C2 T1 C1 X
Slide 19: Number of Applications Lodged & Granted Patents (Cumulative)
Number of Applications Lodged & Granted Patents (Cumulative) 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 Applications Granted Patents Hexima Limited © 19
Slide 20: Thank you to our scientific teams
Thank you to our scientific teams Gene discovery – Prof.Marilyn Anderson Product development – Dr.Robyn Heath Pharmaceutical – Dr.Mark Hulett Intellectual property – Dr.Susanna Herd Hexima Limited © 20
Slide 21: Annual General Meeting
Annual General Meeting 23 November 2010 Dr Robyn Heath Senior Vice President, Product Development
Slide 22: Hexima glasshouse facility at La Trobe University
Hexima glasshouse facility at La Trobe University
Slide 23: Harvesting cobs & isolation of immature corn embryos
Harvesting cobs & isolation of immature corn embryos
Slide 24: Transferring the antifungal gene & regenerating plants
Transferring the antifungal gene & regenerating plants Infection & DNA insertion DNA construct in Agrobacterium tumefaciens Cell division New gene Plant cell Plant regeneration in tissue culture Transgenic corn plant
Slide 25: Transferring the antifungal gene & regenerating plants
Transferring the antifungal gene & regenerating plants
Slide 26: GM corn plants
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