Solasta Bio hits agri-biotech market with patent win and EPA green light
12th March 2025
Agri-biotech company specialising in the next generation of green insecticides, Solasta Bio, has passed a major inflection point with two significant developments that accelerate its path to regulatory approval and commercialisation.
The company behind the world’s first technology platform for creating nature-inspired, small peptide-based insect control agents has received its first patent grant, with additional patents expected to follow, while also securing a favourable biochemical-like classification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its lead peptide candidates, Solasta Bio said.
The company’s team has also explained that its technology is based on insect neuropeptides, which control essential physiological functions. By disrupting these functions in target pests such as aphids, the bioinsecticides kill pest species while being safe for the environment and friendly pollinators such as bees.
The patent allowances from the US and European Patent Office cover the company’s novel peptide candidates, which aim at strengthening its intellectual property position and commercial strategy.
These patents provide crucial protection for the company’s technology as it moves toward product development and commercialisation, Solasta Bio explained.
‘Potential to transform global crop protection market’
In a parallel breakthrough, the EPA has classified Solasta Bio’s lead peptide candidates as biochemical-like, a designation that significantly streamlines the regulatory approval process.
This classification exempts the company’s products from the conventional insecticide registration pathway, reducing both the time and cost associated with bringing its green insecticides to market.
Shireen Davies, CEO and co-founder of Solasta Bio, said: “These developments represent a major inflection point for Solasta Bio. The combination of strong patent protection and a more efficient regulatory pathway positions us exceptionally well to advance our product development and reach full commercialisation within a few years.
“Our technology has the potential to transform the global crop protection market, and we are now one giant stride closer to realising that vision.”
These latest milestone achievements build on Solasta Bio’s strong momentum following an oversubscribed $14 million Series A funding round in September 2024, the company confirmed.
The round attracted a number of agricultural and life science investors, including Forbion BioEconomy Fund, FMC Ventures and Corteva Catalyst, underscoring industry confidence in the company’s technology.
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