AMOEBA (EPA:ALMIB) - AMOEBA: field tests confirm the efficacy of Amoeba's biocontrol solution on several major wheat diseases.

Transparency directive : regulatory news

22/07/2020 17:45

PRESS RELEASE

Field tests confirm the efficacy of Amoeba's biocontrol solution on several
                              major wheat diseases.

Chassieu (France), july 22, 2020 - AMOEBA (FR0011051598 - AMEBA) - producer of
a biological biocide capable of eliminating the risk in water and human wounds,
and of a biocontrol product for plant protection, still in the testing phase,
announces the first efficacy results of its biocontrol solution on several
major wheat diseases as part of its 2020 tests campaign.

Confirmation of the efficacy of its biocontrol solution on wheat in climatic
chambers

Following the conclusive results obtained in climatic chambers on bean rust
(Uromyces fabae) in 2019(1), new tests under controlled conditions were carried
out during the first quarter of 2020 against two cereal rust diseases: yellow
rust (Puccinia striiformis), which attacks wheat and barley, and brown wheat
rust (Puccinia recondita).

These tests were carried out by the pathology laboratory of a public service
provider, on young wheat plants under conditions of artificial contamination.

The Active Substance (AS) alone, lysate of the amoeba Willaertia Magna C2c
Maky, showed good activity, with a stronger dose-effect relationship on yellow
rust than on brown rust. In addition, different formulated products containing
the AS were tested (2 wettable powders on yellow rust, 1 wettable powder and 1
suspension concentrate on brown rust) and showed a better efficacy than the AS
used alone on both rusts.

An unprecedent level of protection for a bio-fungicide, ranging from 70% to
90%, could be measured against these 2 pathogens. At effective doses, symptom
expression was reduced and sporulation was delayed.

First wheat field tests launched in May 2020

Based on these promising results in climatic chambers, Amoeba decided to test,
for the first time, its bio-fungicide active substance in the field under real
conditions against wheat diseases.

These tests, randomized in small plots, with 4 replicates, were carried out on
behalf of Amoeba by accredited service providers, in several European countries
(France, Germany and Italy) and according to strict protocols recommended by
EPPO(2).

Protocol in place: Reference products are always conventional fungicides used
at their maximum authorized dose. An untreated control measures the intensity
of the disease in the absence of protection and, by comparison, measures the
efficacy of the experimental and reference products.

(1) See press release of July 1st, 2019
(2) EPPO: European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization

The Active Substance of Amoeba (lysate of the amoeba Willaertia magna C2c Maky)
has been tested within the 2 formulated products having the best results in the
climatic chamber tests (a wettable powder containing 60% AS, and a suspension
concentrate at 20% AS). The selected co-formulants are classically used agents,
authorized in plant protection and intended to improve various parameters such
as suspension, resistance to leaching and even penetration into the leaf
cuticle.

The main objectives were to:
1. Determine the effective rate under agronomic conditions
2. Compare the 2 formulations
3. Evaluate the interest of programs with 2, 3 or 4 successive treatments.

Results validating the effectiveness of the biocontrol solution

Results of these field trials are as follows:

* In situations of explosive disease development or very late onset,
  experimental products, as sometimes also references (conventional fungicides
  at their maximum registered dose), have not shown sufficient efficacy.
* In tests where the disease development (notably Zymoseptoria tritici septoria
  and Puccinia recondita brown rust) was more progressive, the products
  demonstrated good efficacy, with yield gains of up to 8% compared to the
  untreated control and equivalent to those of the reference.
* On rusts (yellow rust and brown rust), these results confirm the high
  efficiency potential already observed in the laboratory, reaching 75%.
* On septoria, the results of protection observed reached 66%, very slightly
  lower than the conventional references (chemical fungicides) used in the
  trials.
* A clear efficacy was measured on wheat helminthosporiosis (Dreschlera
  tritici-repentis) in a test where this uncommon disease appeared.
* Programs with 4 successive low-dose treatments are often greater than 2
  high-dose treatments.
* Both formulations showed comparable performances with a slight advantage for
  the concentrated suspension

These results could be observed mainly on test plots located in southern
Europe, given the persistent drought conditions in northern France and Germany,
which are not very conducive to development of cereal diseases.

Under field conditions in Europe, the active substance demonstrates versatility
on the main fungal diseases of wheat, the treatment of which represents a
market of euros 2 billion.

These results confirm that the solution developed by Amoéba is, to my
knowledge, the only biocontrol product effective against rust and with proven
versatility (rust, septoria and potentially helminthosporia). This first year
of field experimentation has provided Amoéba with new, very positive data, and
confirms the potential seen in the laboratory. This is a major breakthrough in
the development of biocontrol on field crops, with the aim of reducing the use
of conventional fungicides, and in the fight against resistance of pathogens to
the major chemical families present on the market. Thus, future trials will aim
to confirm these results under varied conditions, in particular on wheat
varieties with different susceptibilities, to measure efficacy on specific
diseases of barley (rust due to Puccinia hordei, rhynchosporiose and
helminthosporiose), to optimize effective doses and to work on positioning in
treatment programs" explains Jean-Luc Souche, Business Developer plant
protection at Amoéba.

About AMOEBA:

Amoéba's ambition is to become a major player in the treatment of bacterial
risk in the fields of water, healthcare and plant protection. Our biological
solution is an alternative to chemical products widely used today. Amoéba is
currently focusing on the market of industrial cooling towers estimated at
EUR1.7Bn (1) on a global chemical biocide market for water treatment, evaluated
at EUR21Bn (2) and on the biocontrol market for plant protection estimated
globally at EUR1.6Bn (4). In the future, the Company is looking at developing
new applications such as chronic wound care, estimated at EUR 751 million (3)
in the USA. Sales of associated products with healthcare, biocides and crop
protection are subject to the Company being granted local regulatory market
authorizations. The Company is currently in a trial phase for biocidal and
plant protection applications and does not market any products.
Created in 2010, based in Chassieu (Lyon, France) with a subsidiary in Canada
and in the United States, Amoéba is quoted on the compartment C of Euronext
Paris. The Company is a member of the BPIfrance Excellence network and is
eligible for the PEA-PME SME equity savings plan setup. More information on
www.amoeba- biocide.com.
(1) : Amoéba data combined from sources: DRIRE 2013, Eurostat, ARHIA 2013
(2) : Sources combined by Amoéba from water treaters, Freedonia, Eurostat et
      MarketsandMarkets
(3):  BCC Research, "Markets for Advanced Wound Management Technologies,"
      Wellesley, MA, 2017
(4):  Biopesticides Worldwide Market 2013, CPL, Wallingford, UK

Contacts:

Amoéba
Valérie FILIATRE
General Manager
+33 (0)4 26 69 16 00
valerie.filiatre@amoeba-biocide.com

Investors and Media Relations
Grégory BOSSON / Mathieu CALLEUX
Agence Calyptus
+33(0)1 53 65 37 90
gregory.bosson@calyptus.net

Disclaimer
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning
AMOEBA which are based on its own assumptions and hypothesis and on information
that are available to us. However, AMOEBA gives no assurance that the estimates
contained in such forward-looking statements will be verified, which estimates
are subject to numerous risks including the risks set forth in the Universal
Registration Document of AMOEBA filed with the French Financial Markets
Authority (Autorité des Marchés Financiers) on April 30, 2020 under number
D20-0416 (a copy of which is available on www.amoeba-biocide.com). The
forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to
risks not yet known to AMOEBA or not currently considered material by AMOEBA.
The occurrence of all or part of such risks could cause actual results,
financial conditions, performance or achievements of AMOEBA to be materially
different from such forward-looking statements.

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AMOEBA (EPA:ALMIB) - AMOEBA: field tests confirm the efficacy of Amoeba's biocontrol solution on several major wheat diseases.

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