Syngenta, DuPont Strike Agreement

By Scott C. Lucas|22 February 2006

According to a press release distributed by Syngenta, the agreement will allow Syngenta to acquire an exclusive worldwide license to develop DuPont’s new bisamide insecticide Rynaxypyr in mixtures with its own insecticide products. Rynaxypyr uses unique systemic properties to control lepidopteran pests. DuPont will continue its marketing effort for straight (non-mixture) Renaxypyr.

In exchange, DuPont Crop Protection has acquired global rights to Syngenta’s strobilurin fungicide picoxystrobin (sold by Syngenta as Acanto). The deal includes access to companion products used in mixtures. Acanto currently is marketed in Europe for use on cereals, and it is nearing expansion for use on soybeans in Latin America.

John Atkin, COO for Syngenta Crop Protection, was quoted in the release as saying that “combinations of Rynaxypyr with our modern insecticides will provide new broadspectrum solutions in the global insecticide market … First launches are targeted for 2009.”

In the same release, James C. Collins, vice president and general manager of DuPont Crop Protection added that “with picoxystrobin, DuPont fills a gap and gains access to major fungicide customers and markets in the EU, Latin America, and later in the United States.”

The transaction between the companies is pending national regulatory approvals. Financial terms were not disclosed.