Bayer acquires German company Targenomix

Bayer today announced the acquisition of Targenomix, a German biotechnology company. A spin-off from the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology, the company uses new systems biology and life science computational tools to identify new modes of action for crop protection compounds.

Targenomix's expertise, people and platforms will be an important part of Bayer's commitment to designing safe and effective molecules, and will accelerate the discovery and development of molecules with the potential to make agricultural production more sustainable despite dynamic challenges such as climate change and increasing resistance to weeds, diseases and insects.

Targenomix is ​​a fundamental element of Bayer's new crop protection systems biology platform. Targenomix will operate closely and maintain a business model focused on flexibility, through which the company will continue to conduct crop protection research with a startup mindset and an agile culture.

"Targenomix's approach has proven to be very successful," said Robert Reiter, Head of R&D at Bayer's Crop Science Division.

"By utilizing a unique, holistic systems biology approach and leveraging leading expertise based on a strong scientific foundation arising from the MPI MPP, Targenomix has provided numerous new targets and modes of action for small molecules in weed control. Innovative tools to identify and select safe and sustainable compounds complement our design-based strategy in discovering crop protection and will accelerate the development of new products that farmers need to meet future agricultural challenges.”

By further integrating Targenomix's systems biology approach into Bayer's established R&D pipeline, Bayer is driving the development of innovative new technologies for safe and effective products that farmers need.

"Combining Bayer's leading capabilities and proven crop protection pipeline with Targenomix's flexible mindset, deep multi-mechanics technology and systems biology expertise will jointly enable us to continue to deliver new modes of action" , said Sebastian Klie, CEO of Targenomix. "This new phase of our complementary relationship will accelerate the discovery of the next generation of sustainable and safe molecules."

Bayer and Targenomix have worked successfully together since 2014, with the discovery and development of the industry's first new post-emergence herbicide mode of action (MOA) for weed control in 30 years, supported by the collaboration. This molecule has demonstrated effective control of key resistant grasses in research and is expected to be commercialized later this decade.

"I am very happy about the integration of Targenomix into the Bayer family, which secures a long-term future for Targenomix and its employees," said Lothar Willmitzer, founder of Targenomix.

"Targenomix's unique expertise in systems and computational biology will significantly reinforce and expand Bayer's capabilities in the area of ​​crop protection and beyond, and keeping Targenomix at arm's length ensures that the spirit of Targenomix is ​​maintained, an essential requirement for its future success. Bayer's decision to acquire Targenomix is ​​another example of the high international recognition that the Max-Planck-Institutes enjoy for their science."