Bayer CropScience and Precision BioSciences Inc. Collaborate to Create Site-Specific Genome Modifications in Plants

MONHEIM, Germany–Bayer CropScience and Precision BioSciences Inc., a biotechnology company headquartered in Research Triangle Park, NC, USA, announced today that they have entered into a collaborative agreement to create site-specific genome modifications in plants. The agreement provides Bayer CropScience with non-exclusive access to aspects of Precision BioSciences’ proprietary Directed Nuclease Editor™ (DNE) technology, which can be used to develop novel traits in plants.

Precision BioSciences’ DNE technology uses advanced protein engineering methods to produce rationally designed, obligate heterodimer endonucleases (enzymes) which have the ability to modify single, unique sites within a large genome. Using DNE technology, crop researchers can insert multiple genes at a single site within a plant chromosome, thereby efficiently and precisely conferring desirable traits into plant species. This technology can thus streamline the trait development and breeding processes, and potentially accelerate a trait’s time to market.

Under this agreement, Precision BioSciences provides Bayer CropScience with multiple DNE-engineered enzymes for use across the company’s crop platforms.

“We are very pleased to be entering into this collaboration with Precision BioSciences for the genetic improvement of crops. Precision BioSciences brings to this partnership unique expertise. We now have access to an important tool for our research and development program that will enhance the speed and efficiency with which we bring valuable new technology solutions to our customers,” said Joachim Schneider, Head of Business Unit BioScience at Bayer CropScience.

“We are thrilled to announce this collaboration with Bayer CropScience, an established innovator and leader in global agribusiness,” said Derek Jantz, Vice President of Scientific Development at Precision BioSciences. “We are looking forward to our relationship with Bayer CropScience to develop novel products utilizing Precision BioSciences’ DNE technology.”

About Bayer CropScience

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials. Bayer CropScience AG, a subsidiary of Bayer AG with annual sales of about EUR 6.4 billion (2008), is one of the world’s leading innovative crop science companies in the areas of crop protection, non-agricultural pest control, seeds and plant biotechnology. The company offers an outstanding range of products and extensive service backup for modern, sustainable agriculture and for non-agricultural applications. Bayer CropScience has a global workforce of more than 18,000 and is represented in more than 120 countries. This and further news is available at: www.press.bayercropscience.com.

About Precision BioSciences

Precision’s mission is to utilize its engineered endonuclease technology to become the world leader in the field of genomic molecular biology. Precision’s proprietary Directed Nuclease EditorTM (DNE) technology enables the production of custom genome editing enzymes that can insert, remove, modify, and regulate essentially any gene in mammalian or plant cells. Precision BioSciences has already produced custom endonucleases for partners and internal development that can precisely alter naturally occurring sequences within genomes. Precision has partnered its DNE technology with several of the world’s largest agbiotech firms and is internally developing applications in biological production and human therapeutics. For additional information, please visit www.precisionbiosciences.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.