RALEIGH, NC--German life sciences company Bayer has signed a contract with Paradigm Genetics here under which they will collaborate in a search for screening targets leading to the development of new herbicides. For contributing its expertise in bioinformatics, gene function identification, and assay development, Paradigm will receive up to $40 million, including milestone payments. Genes identified as being responsible for new targets will be subjected to high-throughput screening.
Jochen Wulff, general manager of Bayer's Crop Protection Business Group, said Paradigm's track record in discovering biochemical characteristics in plants made it a "particularly suitable partner" in gene function research. He added, "The contract marks a continuation of Bayer's strategy of collaborating with outside organizations and will enable us to use available gene technology know-how to develop new crop protection products."