Subsidialisation of biocontrol and cosmetics sales activities

Chassieu (France), July 2, 2024 – 8:30am – Amoéba (FR0011051598 – ALMIB), an industrial greentech specialising in the treatment of microbiological risk, announces a major legal reorganisation designed to strengthen the development of its commercial activities in the biocontrol and cosmetics sectors, and to create value for its shareholders.

Following confirmation of the potential of cosmetics in its future development (see Press Release of June 10, 2024), Amoéba is now committed to expanding two distinct commercial activities: biocontrol and cosmetics.

Amoéba’s Board of Directors has approved the creation of a new legal structure, with the aim of improving visibility in each of these markets, providing a dedicated sales force and setting up a long-term organisation tailored to the specific challenges. This reorganisation will include :

The listed operating parent company, based in Chassieu (Amoéba). This existing entity will bring together all R&D and production activities, thereby driving Amoéba’s technological platform. It will hold the patents and provide support activities.
Two commercial operating companies specialised by market, owned by the parent company: one dedicated to biocontrol activities and the other to cosmetics.

This new organisation will be implemented in the second half of 2024. “The purpose of this strategic change is to develop industrial, commercial and financial partnerships directly at subsidiary level. By optimising our resources and adapting our structures to the specific features of each market, we are creating the conditions for sustainable growth for the Amoéba Group and its shareholders” explained Jean-François Doucet, Chief Executive Officer of Amoéba.

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Significant results of the study carried out on 30 patients by the Institut d’Expertise Clinique

Chassieu (France), June 10, 2024 – 5:45pm – AMOÉBA (FR0011051598 – ALMIB), an industrial greentech specialised in the treatment of microbiological risk, developing a biocontrol agent for the protection of plants in agriculture and a range of cosmetic ingredients, announces that it has received the results of the clinical study confirming the interest of using its ingredient in cosmetic as a skin care product.

In October 2023, following tests of its ingredient on artificial skin which showed excellent results, Amoéba announced the launch of a major new application in the field of cosmetics (see press release of October 16, 2023).

An initial clinical study was carried out by the Institut d’Expertise Clinique on 30 volunteers (half-face, n=60) in March and April 2024. This study confirmed the benefits of using our ingredient in skin care cosmetics, with ‘statistically significant’ results justifying the following claims:

‘improved dermis thickness’.
‘restoring effect on the superficial dermis’.
‘improvement in skin density’.
‘improved dermal texture’.

Amoéba has also obtained the inclusion of this active ingredient on the INCI list (International Nomenclature for Cosmetic Ingredients), paving the way for marketing and the search for commercial partnerships without any further authorization being required.

The skincare market is estimated to be worth 200 billion dollars in 2023, with expected annual growth of 6% until 2030 (source: McKinsey – The beauty market in 2023).

Amoéba’s management will have the opportunity to present its strategy on June 12 in Paris at the annual Portzamparc BNP Paribas Group Mid & Small Caps Conference. The presentation used for this event will be available online on the company’s website at the latest by 7pm on Tuesday June 11.

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Chassieu (France), May 2, 2024 – 6:00pm – AMOÉBA (FR0011051598 – ALMIB), an industrial biotech specialised in the treatment of microbiological risk, developing a biocontrol agent for the protection of plants in agriculture and a range of anti-ageing cosmetic ingredients, is appointing a new Board of Directors, welcoming four well-known figures specialised in the fields that represent the company’s core activities.

Following the appointment of the new Chairman of the Board, Benoit Villers, in December 2023, Amoéba has completely overhauled its strategy by focusing on high value-added markets, accelerating the pre-commercialisation phase, adapting its production facilities to the expected growth in sales and preparing its entry into cosmetics (see Press Releases dated 5 February 2024 and 15 February 2024).

The Board of Directors, which held a meeting on 2 May 2024, appointed three new independent directors and is proposing the appointment of a fourth independent director at the Annual General Meeting on 27 June. These appointments give Amoéba proven and recognised expertise in the biocontrol, health, and cosmetics sectors, as well as in the management, commercial development and financing of fast-growing companies.

Amoéba would like to thank the Directors who have resigned their mandates but who have supported the company’s development for several years, including Fabrice Plasson, its founder, Sylvie Guinard, Philippe Dujardin and Pierre Morgon.

This renewed Board of Directors, allied to a recognised management team led by its new Chief Executive Officer, Jean-François Doucet, will aim to implement this ambitious strategic plan.

Valérie Lorentz-Poinsot (appointed by the Board of Directors on 2 May 2024) *

Valérie Lorentz-Poinsot joined Laboratoires Boiron in 2000, after starting her career with Publicis and then working in the pharmaceutical industry for Fournier and Urgo. Initially Director of Medical Development, then Deputy Managing Director, she will become the company’s Managing Director in 2019. In this role, she will reorganize the company following the delisting of homeopathy in France, while developing new business segments.

Today, under her leadership, Laboratoires Boiron has demonstrated its resilience and innovation, with an offering that remains focused on homeopathy, food supplements, tests sold in pharmacies and cosmetics.

Valérie Lorentz-Poinsot also founded the IWF (International Women’s Forum) – Rhône Alpes chapter and was its President for 5 years. She is currently Co-Chairwoman of the ETI AURA club (Entreprises de Taille Intermédiaire d’Auvergne Rhône-Alpes), a director of Jean-Moulin Lyon 3 University, a director of OL Fondation and a director of Mare Nostrum. She is the author of “Wonder Women, dites oui à vos pouvoirs”, published by Editions du Cherche Midi and “Homéopathie, Liberté, Egalité, Santé”, published by Editions Flammarion.

Valérie Lorentz-Poinsot holds a master’s degree in economics and marketing.

Patrice Sellès (appointed by the Board of Directors on 2 May 2024) *

Patrice Sellès has more than 25 years’ experience in concluding strategic agreements and successful commercial developments with numerous innovators in the global agricultural and food technology industry. From 2019 to 2023, he was CEO of Biotalys, a Belgian company listed on Euronext that develops protein-based biocontrol solutions. There he led strategic development initiatives and global commercial partnerships that are still bearing fruit today.

Prior to this, he held several management positions at Syngenta, including developing the scientific strategy and acquisition of new technologies as Global Head of Digital R&D for the Group. He also worked as an investment manager at Life Science Partners Bioventures in Cambridge (MA).

Patrice Sellès is a chemical engineer and obtained his doctorate in organic chemistry from the Université Pierre et Marie Curie in Paris.

Jean-Marc Petat (appointed by the Board of Directors on 2 May 2024)

Jean-Marc Petat has over 30 years’ experience in BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division in technical, European marketing, sustainable agriculture and public relations functions. As a member of the Executive Committee in France and Western Europe until 2024, he launched and coordinated BASF’s agroecology strategy in France, in particular by structuring the contribution of new growth drivers such as biocontrol. He developed a 2030 roadmap for biocontrol by developing an open innovation strategy with public and private research, alliances with the agricultural world and communication with public authorities and environmental associations.

Jean-Marc Petat is a graduate of the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Agronomie et des Industries Alimentaires based in Nancy.

Quentin Hua (proposed for appointment by the General Meeting of 27 June 2024)

Quentin Hua is chief of staff at Laboratoires Boiron, reporting to the Executive Committee and responsible for the ESG approach. Previously, he was a consultant at DGM Conseil, a consultancy specialising in assisting the directors of listed companies and the founders of start-ups with their communication strategies. In this capacity, he advised the management teams of companies and investment funds in various corporate transformation processes and M&A operations.

He began his career at the BPCE Group’s General Inspection department, where he carried out audit and consultancy assignments in the various entities of the BPCE Group in France and abroad, before joining Bain & Company to take part in strategy consultancy assignments for players in the retail and chemicals sectors.

Quentin Hua graduated from the Ecole Normale Supérieure de Cachan with a degree in economics and management and from Sciences Po Paris with a degree in finance and strategy.

* Valérie Lorentz-Poinsot was appointed by the Board of Directors on 2 May 2024 as permanent representative of Ondine Sasu.

Patrice Sellès (PhD) was appointed by the Board of Directors on 2 May 2024 as permanent representative of Beyond Life Science Consulting GmbH.

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AMOEBA: Additional information and areas for growth

Chassieu (France), February 15, 2024 – 8:45 am – AMOÉBA (FR0011051598 – ALMIB), an industrial
biotech specialized in the treatment of microbiological risk, developing a biocontrol agent for crop
treatment in agriculture and an anti-aging cosmetic ingredient announces additional information
following a change in governance, and a review of the company’s growth focus.
As part of Amoéba’s reorientation from a research and development company to a commercial and
industrial company, the new management team has established a strategy aimed at prioritising a
range of highly profitable products that can be brought to market as quickly as possible. The aim of
this strategy is to maximise the company’s value as soon as possible for the benefit of all its
shareholders.
The Company is therefore undertaking the following actions:

Biocontrol
This market segment is at the heart of the Company’s activities. The regulatory assessment of the
active substance at European level is approaching its final stage, and should be completed in
September 2024. The European Commission will then have six months to formalise the decision to
register the active substance. At the same time, applications for registration of AXPERA NOA and
AXPERA EVA formulated products will be submitted in 8 European countries (France, Italy, Spain,
Greece, Portugal, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands). Marketing authorisations should be
obtained by mid-2025.
At the same time, regulatory submissions for AXPERA NOA and AXPERA EVA will be made in the United
States in 2024, with approval expected in mid-2025.
At the same time as taking these regulatory steps, Amoéba is preparing its distribution strategy in
Europe and the United States. With regard to the targeted crops, the refocusing on high-margin market
segments means that the importance of the vine sector will be put into perspective in the short term,
even though agreements with major brands are still on the table. Greenhouse crops, which are more
profitable, will initially be favoured in terms of resources and sales effort.

Cosmetics
As announced in the press release of 16 October 2023, “The cosmetics market is a fast-growing
industry that has been called into question in recent years because of the chemical origin and the
health and environmental impacts of its ingredients. Once incorporated into a cosmetic formulation,
this new cosmetic ingredient, with its many beneficial effects, can provide a multifunctional natural
product.” Initial test results for the cosmetic ingredient on artificial skin have shown excellent results (see press release of 16 October 2023). An initial clinical study conducted by the Institut d’Expertise Clinique and involving 30 volunteers is scheduled to begin at the end of this month and will deliver its results at the start of the second half of 2024.
This relatively recent application is extremely interesting because of its high added value, the speed
and ease with which a high-quality active ingredient can be brought to market, and also because
Amoéba already has the necessary and sufficient production capacity to develop this application
successfully.
In order to identify other markets, various uses will be tested in 2024, in particular hair treatment (loss
and regrowth) and wound healing.

Biocide
This activity is no longer considered a strategic focus for Amoéba, given the refusal of its approval by
the European Commission.
However, the biocidal product is approved in the United States for the treatment of water in closed
cooling circuits, and steps are being taken to sell this business there.
With a view to disposal, this asset may also be attractive to water industry operators located in
countries where registration applications have not yet been filed (Asia, Africa).

Manufacturing
The postponement of the construction of the Cavaillon plant, whose capacity was not in line with the
commercial developments expected in the short term, has been confirmed, and agreements have been
reached with the companies involved in building the plant in order to minimise the cash-flow impact.
In addition, studies on a targeted investment to increase the capacity of the pilot lines located at the
Company’s head office in Chassieu are nearing completion. The Chassieu manufacturing unit will
ensure sales of products for the Biocontrol and Cosmetics businesses until the end of 2026.

Finance
Amoéba’s new strategic direction is supported by its main shareholder, Nice & Green SA (an
investment company based in Switzerland), which continues to support the company by providing
standard bond loans to cover the sums needed for its operations

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AMOEBA: Corporate governance change and review of the company’s growth strategy

Chassieu (France), Feb.5, 2024 – 8:45am – AMOÉBA (FR0011051598 – ALMIB), AMOÉBA
(FR0011051598 – ALMIB) an industrial biotech in pre-commercialization* specialized in the treatment
of microbiological risk, developing an anti-aging cosmetic ingredient, a biocontrol agent for crop
treatment in agriculture that has obtained a marketing authorization in the United States and a
biological biocide that has also obtained a marketing authorization in the United States for use in
closed cooling systems, announces additional information following a change in governance, and a
review of the company’s growth focus.

Reminder of the change in governance
During its meeting on 14 December 2023, Amoéba’s Board of Directors decided to change the
Company’s mode of governance, resulting in the automatic termination of Fabrice Plasson’s
appointments as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer. The Board of Directors
unanimously appointed Benoit Villers, founder and Managing Partner of Nice & Green SA, and former
General Sales Manager of the Barry Callebaut Group, as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Benoit
Villers was proposed by Nice & Green SA, which is the company’s largest shareholder with a 29.4%
stake.
The Board of Directors also appointed Jean-François Doucet, previously Deputy Managing Director, to
the position of Managing Director of the company. Jean-François Doucet has extensive experience in
auditing, consulting, and financial management, gained in international companies.

Review of business development guidelines
At the initiative of its new Chairman and in agreement with the Managing Director and the Board of
Directors, Amoéba has initiated a complete review of its development priorities. The purpose is to
shorten the time needed to generate positive operating cash flow. As a result, we are focusing our
business development on products and markets offering the best returns and the fastest time to
market.
With the aim of focusing on high-margin rather than high-volume activities, it is already envisaged that
the production planned for the short and medium term will be met by extending production capacity
at Chassieu, the company’s current head office. The Board of Directors has therefore decided to put
on hold the construction of the Cavaillon plant, the financing for which has not yet been finalised, until
such time as the sales generated from Chassieu provide sufficient operating cash flow.
Amoéba intends to announce its new action plan in the nearest future, detailing its new directions
aimed at optimising the exploitation of the scientific assets developed and authorised in recent years.

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AMOEBA: Commercial strategy and governance further strengthened and industrial project deferred 

 Chassieu (France), December 15, 2023 – 17:45 – AMOÉBA (FR0011051598 – ALMIB) an industrial biotech in pre-commercialization* specialized in the treatment of microbiological risk, developing an anti-aging cosmetic ingredient, a biocontrol agent for crop treatment in agriculture that has obtained a marketing authorization in the United States and a biological biocide that has also obtained a marketing authorization in the United States for use in closed cooling systems, is announcing the deferral of work on its Biocontrol plant in Cavaillon, pending further financing. 

As discussions are still underway with several investors and business partners, Amoéba has decided to defer work on its USIBIAM industrial project in Cavaillon. This deferral will not in any way affect the Company’s continued progress with the various commercial initiatives that are underway. 

Strategic partnership with Nice & Green SA further strengthened 

Amoéba is adapting its strategic partnership with its financial partner and lead shareholder Nice & Green SA to help support Amoéba’s commercial development, while continuing to secure its cash position and covering the operating costs relating to the industrial project’s deferral. Nice & Green SA is committed to continuing to finance Amoéba’s ongoing activities until new investors are brought on board (see press release from February 15, 2023). 

Following an initial assessment and financial structuring phase entrusted to KPMG, the Company is continuing to move forward with its work to identify non-dilutive financing solutions for its industrial project, while involving Nice & Green SA. 

While waiting for this financing to be secured, Nice & Green SA, which has retained the majority of the shares obtained by converting the bonds issued through the convertible bond financing from 2019 to 2022, will continue to support the Company, positioning itself as a strategic investor alongside Amoéba. The Swiss investor is once again setting out its confidence in the development of Amoéba’s biocide, phytosanitary and cosmetic applications. Today, Nice & Green SA holds 29.4% of Amoéba’s capital. 

Governance changes 

The separation of the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer roles was approved by the Board of Directors on December 14, 2023, resulting in the end of Fabrice Plasson’s positions as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer. However, he will continue with his commitment alongside the Company, which he founded 13 years ago, 

by supporting Amoéba’s development as a founding director and helping drive the Company’s strategic vision within the Board. 

To support this key strategic stage and consolidate Nice & Green’s SA support, Benoit Villers, Nice & Green SA Executive Board Member, was appointed as a director of Amoéba and Chairman of its Board of Directors during this same Board meeting. Benoit brings vast experience in commercial strategies and market development, drawing on expertise built up with major groups, such as Barry Callebaut and ADM, as well as younger companies like Nice & Green SA and the various startups that he supports. 

The Chief Executive Officer role was entrusted to Jean-François Doucet, who was previously Deputy General Manager. Jean-François has over 25 years’ experience in auditing, corporate finance and administration with international businesses. He has operated in commercial and industrial environments in the chemical and health sectors (BASF Agri, BASF Agro, Gibaud, Ossür, etc.), where he has also been involved in operational and strategic transformation operations. 

Benoit Villers, Nice & Green SA Executive Board Member: “This latest stage in our strategic partnership with Amoéba reflects our commitment to the company’s development and success. By becoming part of the Board of Directors, we aim to take on an active role to help market its product ranges. Nice & Green SA is still deeply committed alongside Amoéba to support its ongoing activities, and we are confident about its potential for growth. Together, we are working to further strengthen the company’s position and ensure that it has the future that it deserves”. 

Fabrice Plasson, Amoéba director and founder: “The relationship of mutual confidence and trust that we have developed with Nice & Green SA over the last few years has naturally led us to embark on this new strategic stage. By our side for many years, Nice & Green SA will now be even more involved in Amoéba’s project, further strengthening its positions within its governance bodies. We expect this renewed confidence to help drive the development of Amoéba and its microbiological risk treatment solutions in the water, crop protection and cosmetics sectors. Amoéba is now ideally positioned to capitalize on more than 10 years of R&D focused on the development of biocide, phytosanitary and cosmetic applications”. 

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AMOEBA : A year of field trials that confirms AXPERA’s strategic positioning

Chassieu (France), November 23, 2023 – 17h45 – AMOÉBA (FR0011051598 – ALMIB) an industrial biotech in pre-commercialization* specialised in the treatment of microbiological risk, developing a biocontrol agent for the crop treatment in agriculture that has obtained a marketing authorization in the United States and a biological biocide that has also obtained a marketing authorisation in the United States for use in closed cooling systems, today announces the publication of its 2023 trial results. 

With more than 140 field trials completed or ongoing in Europe, the United States, Brazil, Costa Rica and Asia, the winter 2022 / summer 2023 trial campaign confirms the results of the 2022 season and allows the commercial strategy and target markets to be refined in preparation for the launch of AXPERA biofungicide.

In this pre-marketing context, the main objectives of these trials carried out by independent external service providers on small plots of land in accordance with BPE (“Bonnes Pratiques d’Expérimentation” – Good Experimentation Practices) were :  

To generate efficacy data for future product registration dossiers in Europe, Brazil and California.
To determine a positioning strategy for AXPERA by conducting trials involving a combination or alternating application with other conventional and organic fungicides. 
To evaluate the company’s formulations on new target crops in order to broaden our knowledge of the spectrum of activity of our amoeba lysate-based biofungicide. 

Two main formulations were tested, depending on the crops: a Suspension Concentrate (SC), which should be the formulation selected for registration of the formulated product, and an Oil Dispersion (OD), which is more appropriate for certain crops.

1 – Target markets for primary registrations 

The trials carried out this year have enabled us to confirm the application rates for future marketing authorisation applications and to position AXPERA in combination or alternatively in organic or conventional farming programs:

Vegetable crops

A major campaign of 45 trials was carried out in 2023 in Europe and California, confirming the efficacy of AXPERA on its own or as part of a grower programme against powdery mildew and downy mildew on vegetable crops.   

Industrial tomatoes

For industrial tomatoes, grown in open fields and intended for manufacturing, disease pressure was high in Italy, with a devastating late blight attack. Flooding and hail for three weeks at the end of August in Veneto (Italy) had not been favourable to the development of industrial tomatoes, having a considerable impact on yield. As the effectiveness results varied widely, it is difficult to draw conclusions about the strategy to adopt: trials will therefore be conducted in 2024.    

In France, with similar climatic conditions in the south-west, the strategy implemented by Amoéba was to combine or alternate AXPERA at 2.5l/ha with sulphur or copper. This programme made it possible to halve the dose of sulphur or copper applied, while maintaining similar efficacy to the references. 

This strategy offers better protection than AXPERA on its own, which is insufficiently effective in the case of heavy downy mildew attacks, with an average efficacy of 62%. 

In addition, trials carried out on tomato powdery mildew in glasshouses have shown that AXPERA provides efficacy ranging from 50% to 98%, depending on infestation conditions. These remarkable results for a biocontrol product have led us to continue our trials on this disease. 

Melon 

This year’s conditions have resulted in significant downy mildew pressure on field-grown melon in the Poitou-Charentes region. In these conditions, the AXPERA product applied on its own showed an average efficacy of 30% in the case of heavy attacks. 

However, the results observed when AXPERA is combined with copper are very satisfying: this programme (by reducing copper by 60% of its initial dose) offers equivalent efficacy to copper applied on its own, i.e. around 70% efficacy on average. 

These observations allow Amoéba to confirm the positioning of AXPERA as a complement to copper, which contributes directly to reducing the treatment frequency index (IFT) for melons. 

Greenhouse crops 

Against powdery mildew in glasshouse crops (cucumber and squash), very good results were measured during this third year of trials in Italy, Spain and France. 

Although it sometimes lagged behind the sulphur reference, the product nevertheless appeared to be systematically more effective than the reference biocontrol products, with an average efficacy of 60% on cucumbers. 

The strategy of combining AXPERA with sulphur, aiming to replace 4 out of a total of 6 applications with our product, provides equivalent efficacy to that of sulphur applied alone and at full dose.

Vine

This year, viticulture was severely impacted by a climatic incident in the Bordeaux region (France) and the Piedmont region (Italy), resulting in heavy attacks of downy mildew and a late arrival of powdery mildew on bunches (90% of vines affected in Gironde). 

In these conditions, the strategy adopted for the 2023 trials was to protect the vines during the flowering period (a sensitive stage for mildew contamination) with conventional pesticides and to position AXPERA in local conventional programmes (Champagne, Gironde, South-East, Burgundy, Italy).

Despite the use of conventional products, these programmes have not provided sufficient protection for the bunches, and yield losses have been deplored. Given the climatic conditions in Europe, it is impossible to draw any conclusions about the effectiveness of AXPERA in this year’s trials.

Only one trial carried out in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region (Italy) showed promising results, with efficacy similar to the chemical reference programme, incorporating 4 applications of AXPERA in the same programme. In this way, Amoéba’s biofungicide is helping to reduce the use of conventional plant protection products. 

With regard to powdery mildew on vines, AXPERA was found to be highly effective when applied alone, with efficacy levels ranging from 50 to 90% depending on the level of attack. 

The development of AXPERA on mildew and powdery mildew will continue in 2024.   

2 – Secondary markets: aromatic herbs and arboriculture 

Basil

Cut basil is by far the most important crop on the European herbs market. For several years now, basil mildew has been causing problems for growers in the production basins of France and Italy.  Basil requires intense irrigation to keep the plant growing, which encourages the development and heavy contamination of downy mildew in open fields. Varietal resistance is one of the pillars for fighting downy mildew in basil, in addition to conventional phytosanitary products, which are becoming increasingly limited or even withdrawn from the market.        

In 2023, Amoéba conducted 4 trials on downy mildew of basil in Italy in the Parma region, the Italian basil production basin. The AXPERA product was evaluated on two different varieties of basil, one tolerant and one susceptible to mildew. 

Using the product alone on the susceptible variety was not sufficiently effective to control the pathogen. However, when AXPERA was applied to a tolerant variety, we observed efficacy ranging from 10% to 82%.

Given this gap in efficacy, it is necessary to continue our studies on this target in order to position the product accordingly and increase our knowledge of the subject. 

The evaluation will therefore be continued in 2024 with a larger number of GHP trials. 

Apple 

This year, climatic conditions in the north of France and in Italy, characterised by long periods of heatwave, did not allow sufficient development of apple scab in susceptible orchards, making evaluation more difficult.  

Four trials carried out in France and Italy on lightly contaminated apple trees have, however, demonstrated the product’s strong activity, similar to copper at the highest dose tested. 

These results will be confirmed in the longer term in situations of more severe infestation, in this important market where there are currently no natural solutions.

3 – New targets and potential new markets 

This year again, Amoéba has conducted trials on new crops and diseases in order to broaden our knowledge of the AXPERA product and its spectrum of activity.

Vine 

In addition to the mildew and powdery mildew trials, two trials were carried out on Black Rot, Guignardia bidwellii, in vines in the Bordeaux region (France) at the request of winegrowers.  The particular climatic conditions were favourable to the development of the pathogen, with attack rates sometimes reaching 70% on untreated bunches. In this exceptional context, AXPERA’s efficacy on this target is judged to be insufficient. The tests will not be continued in 2024. 

Strawberry

Two trials carried out in France on Botrytis in strawberries concluded that AXPERA was poorly effective against this target, with an average efficacy of 15% on fruit.

However, two other trials carried out on powdery mildew in strawberries in France on susceptible varieties showed an average efficacy of 62% for the product alone at 2.5 l/ha, equivalent to one of the organic references on the market. 

This promising result for this new target offers new development opportunities for the strawberry market in France, Spain and Italy. Numerous trials on strawberry powdery mildew will be included in the 2024 campaign.    

Sugar beet

In the year 2023, two trials on cercosporiosis of sugar beet were set up in the Nord de France, a European sugar beet production basin. Climatic conditions made it difficult to assess AXPERA’s efficacy, and trials on this target will continue in 2024. 

As copper hydroxide has been the subject of an annual exemption for several years now to control the risk of cercosporiosis and powdery mildew on industrial sugar beet, AXPERA could be used to replace copper or in combination to reduce the number of its applications.

Banana 

Two trials were carried out in the second half of 2023 in Costa Rica and Guadeloupe. 

The first trial, in Costa Rica, was carried out during a highly rainy period, representative of the harshest conditions, on a highly contaminated trial. The programme involving one application per week (for a total of 12) showed that the two formulations (AXP12 and AXP13) were highly effective, with efficacy ranging from 70 to 80% depending on the dose. This efficacy, which is lower than the best contact chemical fungicide, mancozeb (94%), is nevertheless equivalent to the most effective biocontrol product recently introduced to the market, Tea Tree essential oil, at 70%.

The second trial in Guadeloupe was carried out using a different application programme, with one application every two weeks (rather than weekly) for a total of 6 applications, under average disease pressure. The AXP12 and AXP13 formulations were 50% as effective as the natural reference product used locally, sulphur.

Banned in Europe a few years ago, mancozeb and chlorothalonil are still widely used on banana as a complement to unisite fungicides, which are highly effective because of their systemic and curative properties, but are subject to high risks of resistance and therefore require partners (in combination or alternately) to maintain their effectiveness over the medium term.

All the trials carried out over the last two years show that AXPERA is effective enough to fulfil this partner role in an anti-resistance strategy.

4. Conclusion 

Despite widespread climatic incidents which made it difficult to assess effectiveness due to yield losses, the 2022 – 2023 campaign led Amoéba to the following conclusions: 

The positioning of AXPERA in programmes in combination with or alternating with conventional or organic copper/sulphur products seems more than appropriate to gradually lead to a reduction in the use of phytosanitary products. 
AXPERA has shown real potential for controlling powdery mildew on a wide range of crops (vines, vegetables, strawberries, etc.).
Downy mildew being a more virulent disease and difficult to control, particularly with organic products, makes it necessary to position AXPERA more precisely in farmers’ programmes. 
New targets have been characterised, with real opportunities for cercosporiosis of beet and downy mildew of basil.
AXPERA has also confirmed its potential to combat black spot on bananas (Sigatoka) and to become a key fungicide in annual treatment programmes, replacing the chemical contact fungicides still in use.

“This particularly complex year for field trials has enabled us to refine our objectives for the 2023-2024 campaign, in order to position AXPERA as closely as possible to farmers’ expectations. Throughout the year, we have identified very promising targets, confirmed our knowledge from previous years and developed effective programmes. AXPERA is clearly emerging as a partner for conventional products and a support for organic products, and we are very enthusiastic about offering a high-potential solution to help meet European pesticide reduction targets. As early as next year, we will be conducting trials on new minor-use targets to expand our knowledge of this innovative product, which is expected to be launched on the market in 2025,” says Annabelle GILGEN, biocontrol technical development manager at Amoéba.

AMOEBA: Publication of a scientific paper concerning the efficacy of its biocontrol products to fight tomato late blight and powdery mildews of tomato

Chassieu (France), October 18, 2023 – 17h45 – AMOÉBA (FR0011051598 – ALMIB) an industrial biotech in pre-commercialization* specialised in the treatment of microbiological risk, developing a biocontrol agent for the crop treatment in agriculture that has obtained a marketing authorization in the United States and a biological biocide that has also obtained a marketing authorisation in the United States for use in closed cooling systems, announces the publication of a third peer-reviewed scientific article on its biocontrol application in the special “Biological Control of Plant Diseases II” issue of Plants, a journal of the MDPI group.

This paper (https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/20/3603) presents, for the first time to the international scientific community, the efficacy of Amoéba’s biocontrol products based on the lysate of the non-pathogenic amoeba Willaertia magna C2c Maky on tomato late blight and powdery mildews of tomato. As with grapevines and potatoes, scientific data on this newly-tested crop show: 

An indirect effect via stimulation of the plant’s natural defenses by the active substance and the formulated product, AXPERA EVA. 
Field efficacy against the pathogens Phytophtora infestans, responsible for tomato late blight; Oidium neolycopersici, responsible for external powdery mildew of tomato; and Leveillula taurica, responsible for inside powdery mildew of tomato.

The data were collected from trials carried out by independent contractors. As tomatoes were grown both in the greenhouse and in the field, the use of AXPERA EVA was validated for both cultivation methods during the 2022 trial campaign.  Results show that the amoeba lysate of Willaertia magna C2c Maky, a naturally-occurring product, protects tomatoes against both late blight and powdery mildews, with efficacy of up to 97% on leaves and 100% on fruit.

“This third scientific article in the field of plant protection, dealing with the efficacy of our biocontrol solution against late blight and powdery mildews in tomatoes, is part of an ongoing effort to increase scientific knowledge of the amoeba Willaertia magna C2c Maky. The data collected confirm the high potential of this amoeba lysate as a plant protection agent. We are continuing our R&D operations and tests on other crops, the results of which will also be the subject of new publications” declares Dr Sandrine Troussieux, chief scientific officer at Amoéba.

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AMOEBA : Convincing results for the use of Willaertia magna C2c Maky lysate in cosmetics.

Chassieu (France), October 16, 2023 – 17h45 – AMOÉBA (FR0011051598 – ALMIB) an industrial biotech in pre-commercialization* specialised in the treatment of microbiological risk, developing a biocontrol agent for the crop treatment in agriculture that has obtained a marketing authorization in the United States and a biological biocide that has also obtained a marketing authorisation in the United States for use in closed cooling systems, announces that it has obtained convincing results for the use of Willaertia magna C2c Maky lysate in cosmetic skin care and has filed a patent application for this invention.

As part of its research for new applications, the Company unexpectedly discovered that the Willaertia magna C2c Maky lysate could be of cosmetic interest. To validate this use, two studies were conducted by specialized laboratories and the below-described conclusive results led the Company to fill a patent to protect the use of the lysate as a cosmetic ingredient.

First study: Induction of genes of cosmetic interest

The first study was carried out by a specialized external laboratory with the aim of assessing the level of induction of target genes of cosmetic interest after lab-grown human skin cells were treated with the Willaertia magna C2c Maky lysate.

The results showed that treating human cells with Willaertia magna C2c Maky lysate stimulated cellular functions of importance in cosmetics: 

Moderate stimulation of the expression of cellular functions involved in wound healing (FBL5 gene), hyaluronic acid synthesis (HAS gene) and anti-infectious immunity (TLR2 gene).
Very strong stimulation of the expression of cellular functions protecting against cell death (BCL2 gene), cell renewal (PIWIL1 gene) and UV protection, anti-oxidative stress and photoaging (FOXO1 and SGK1 genes). 

These results, demonstrating the induction of multiple genes of cosmetic interest, led the Company to evaluate the effect of Willaertia magna C2c Maky lysate on a 3-dimensional (3D) skin model.

Second study: Evaluation of the effect of the lysate on a 3D skin model

This study was carried out by LabSkin Creations, a biotechnology company specialised in advanced 3D skin engineering and service provider to the world’s leading cosmetics brands.Willaertia magna C2c Maky lysate was applied every 2-3 days for 30 days to the LabSkin 3D reconstructed skin model to assess the effect of the lysate on ageing skin. Part of the tissue constructs was exposed to 100 mJ/cm₂ of UV_B to assess the level of protection induced by the lysate against the UV_B effects. 

The results on the 3D model of ageing skin and on the 3D young skin model under UV_B exposure showed that, compared with the untreated conditions, treatment with Willaertia magna C2c Maky lysate increased epidermal thickness, led to recovery of terminal cell differentiation and improved the quality and abundance of the extracellular matrix which is essential for the cohesion of the skin’s compartments.

The amoeba lysate could therefore be used as a cosmetic ingredient for the following cosmetic purposes:

protection against cell death of skin cells, 
cellular renewal of skin cells, 
protection against the effects of UV rays,
anti oxidative stress, 
protection against photoaging. 

The next step, planned over the coming months, will consist of carrying out a test formulation for cosmetic trials on volunteers by specialized companies.

Intellectual property and regulatory requirements

The Company has filed today a patent with the French Patent Office (Institut national de la propriété industrielle) entitled ” Cosmetic composition containing protozoan” to protect the invention of a cosmetic composition for skin care including protozoa of the genus Willaertia.

At regulatory level, in Europe and the United States, the placing on the market of a cosmetic product does not require prior approval by a competent authority: the person responsible for placing the formulated cosmetic product on the market must carry out a self-assessment of the product safety. 

Amoéba could provide the cosmetic industry with an ingredient whose absence of hazard has been validated by all the regulatory studies carried out for the biocontrol application, the cosmetic ingredient being identical to the biocontrol active substance.

“We are very proud of this discovery and of these excellent proof-of-concept results, which once again demonstrate the expertise of our biotechnology and industrial valorisation platform. The cosmetics market is a fast-growing industry that has been called into question in recent years because of the chemical origin and the health and environmental impacts of its ingredients. Once incorporated into a cosmetic formulation, this new cosmetic ingredient, with its many beneficial effects, can provide a multifunctional natural product. The ingredient can be mass-produced using our existing industrial facilities with a high standard of quality.”, says Fabrice PLASSON, CEO of Amoéba.

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AMOEBA announces the beginning of construction of its USIBIAM biocontrol plant in Cavaillon

Chassieu (France), October 12, 2023 – 08h45 – AMOÉBA (FR0011051598 – ALMIB) a pre- commercialization* industrial biotech specializing in the treatment of microbiological risk, developing a biocontrol agent for the treatment of plants in agriculture and a biological biocide, and having obtained a marketing authorization in the USA for its biological biocide for use in closed cooling systems and a marketing authorization in the USA for its first biocontrol product (100% active substance), announces the start of work on the USIBIAM industrial project in Cavaillon on schedule.

A few weeks after the signing of the deed of sale on September 26 (cf. press release dated 22/09/2023), construction work on the USIBIAM (Usine Biocontrôle Amoéba) industrial project, supervised by GSE engineers, began in October and is scheduled to last until the end of 2024. The construction site has already mobilized a number of local companies: TPK (sanitation), Provençale de TP (earthworks and preparatory work), EBI Construction (masonry), Alpes Contrôles and Face.

Located in the heart of the Zone d’Activité des Hauts Banquets (Cavaillon, 84), this modern, eco- responsible industrial site will produce Amoéba’s biocontrol agent, with a view to its commercial launch in 2025. Through its ambitious industrial project, Amoéba aims to reach an annual production capacity of 40 tonnes of active substance, guaranteeing the treatment of 100,000 hectares of agricultural soils.

A ceremony attended by local elected officials

To commemorate the start of this major project, on Tuesday October 10, 2023, Fabrice Plasson, CEO of Amoéba, joined by Roland Paul, President of GSE, Gérard Daudet, Mayor of Cavaillon and President of LMV Agglomération, Cathy Fermanian, Managing Director of Vaucluse Provence Attractivité, Bénédicte Martin, Vice-President of the SUD PACA Region and Christian Guyard, General Secretary of the Vaucluse Prefecture, have laid the foundation stone for Amoéba’s biocontrol plant.

The event, attended by local politicians, representatives of local authorities, the regional press and the project’s technical partners, was an opportunity for Amoéba to present its ambitions and commitments on a large scale in its new location.

“Seven years after the inauguration of the Chassieu industrial R&D center, the laying of the foundation stone for the USIBIAM industrial site marks the start of a great adventure for Amoéba: the reindustrialization of France through innovation. At the heart of France’s first low-carbon urban development zone, USIBIAM will be a leading example of naturalness at the service of the agricultural and food transition. We are delighted to be setting up in Vaucluse, in the heart of the Southern Region, and to celebrate this major milestone alongside our elected representatives and partners, who are collectively contributing to the success of Amoéba’s project”, says Fabrice Plasson, Chairman and CEO of Amoéba.

More information about USIBIAM project on Amoéba’s website « Industrial Project”. This project is supported by France 2030.

Read the press release in PDF : https://amoeba-nature.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/121023_ENG-CP-USIBIAM-VDEF.pdf