Bayer CropScience in early-stage research pact with GVK Biosciences

Hyderabad: Bayer CropScience and Hyderabad-based contract researcher GVK Biosciences Private Limited will jointly work i areas of early discovery chemistry to speed up the search for promising active ingredients for new crop protection products.

Under the agreement, Bayer CropScience will integrate GVK BIO capacities in the early part of its discovery chemistry process.

"We want to further speed up the development of our successful crop protection R&D pipeline and we look forward to working with GVK BIO, Asia's leading contract research organization", said Dr Alexander Klausener, head of research at Bayer CropScience AG. "This cooperation in the area of early discovery chemistry will help Bayer CropScience to further increase efficiency in its Research. It will also help our company to participate in the quickly developing scientific environment in India."

Three fungicides - fluopyram, bixafen and isotianil - are scheduled for launch in 2010 and 2011. Three further candidates are at an advanced stage of development.

"GVK Biosciences has built world-class capabilities in early Discovery Chemistry," said Manni Kantipudi, president, GVK Biosciences. "Agri & Crop Sciences Research is a key focus area for GVK BIO. We are happy with the trust imposed by Bayer and look forward to working with one of the most innovative agri companies."

With expenditures of EUR 649 million in research and development in 2008, Bayer CropScience is one of the leading innovative companies in the agricultural industry. In 2008, the insecticides spirotetramat and the herbicide pyrasulfotole have been launched successfully.