AOX Inhibitors

Tech ID: 24.708

Key Features

• Broad crop protection applications (pathogens & herbicide)
• Overcomes emerging strobilurin resistance
• Breakthrough suite of chemistry targeting AOX
• Rational design based on fundamental active site studies

Description

Professor Tony Moore and colleagues at the University of Sussex have developed a novel class of plant protection agents based on their detailed proprietary insights of the alternative oxidase (AOX) protein structure and active site.  This understanding enabled a rational design of a breakthrough suite of chemistry targeting AOX, with broad crop protection applications. This approach also overcomes emerging strobilurin resistance. 

PBL is working with the University of Sussex and AlternOx Scientific Ltd (AlternOx) to engage with development partners to design, test and commercialise novel fungicides, anti-microbial compounds and herbicides through the rational design of targeted AOX inhibitors. AlternOx is a newly established bio-pharma company (and spin-out of University of Sussex) focused on the exploitation of novel and proprietary inhibitors of AOX to treat a wide range of multi-drug and multi compound resistant species of fungi that now threaten human health.

For further detailed information please download the non-confidential summary pdf.

Patents

US 10,851,047 and 11,565,996 and corresponding international patents plus new pending patent application.

References

Szibor, M et al. (2022) Targeting the alternative oxidase (AOX) for human health and food security, a pharmaceutical and agrochemical target or a rescue mechanism? Biochemical Journal; 479: 1337-1359. https://doi.org/10.1042/BCJ20180192