EXHIBIT 99.1
DOW AGROSCIENCES, SANGAMO BIOSCIENCES ANNOUNCE RESEARCH AND COMMERCIAL
LICENSE AGREEMENT IN PLANT AGRICULTURE
INDIANAPOLIS and RICHMOND, Calif., Oct. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Dow
AgroSciences LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE:
DOW), and Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: SGMO) today announced the signing
of a Research and Commercial License Agreement. The agreement provides Dow
AgroSciences with access to Sangamo's proprietary zinc finger DNA-binding
protein (ZFP) technology for use in plants and plant cell cultures to develop
products in areas including, on an exclusive basis, plant agriculture and
industrial products, and, on a non-exclusive basis, animal health and
biopharmaceutical products produced in plants.
"Dow AgroSciences has a strong tradition of innovation and early adoption of
new technologies. We pride ourselves on operating at the cutting edge of plant
biotechnology in our mission to provide products that improve the quality and
quantity of the earth's food supply and contribute to improving the health and
quality of life of the world's growing population," said Dan Kittle, vice
president, Research and Development for Dow AgroSciences. "We believe that
access to Sangamo's ZFP technology will ensure an early and sustainable
competitive advantage for our business. We also look forward to working with the
public research sector and other companies to fully develop and apply this
technology to plant crop improvement."
"Dow AgroSciences is recognized as a world leader in innovative plant
biotechnology," said Edward Lanphier, Sangamo's president and chief executive
officer. "Sangamo has demonstrated that our ZFP technology provides a robust and
broadly applicable approach for both gene regulation and gene modification in a
wide range of organisms. Our business strategy has always been to maximize the
commercial potential of this technology across all fields of use. We believe
that the combination of our novel technology with Dow AgroSciences' proven
experience in development of agricultural biotech products will enable us to
accomplish this goal in plant agriculture. In Dow AgroSciences, we have a
partner that shares our vision and is capable of fully exploiting the
applications of ZFP transcription factors (ZFP TFs(TM)) and ZFP nucleases
(ZFNs(TM)) in plants."
ZFPs are the dominant class of naturally occurring transcription factors in
organisms from yeast to humans. Transcription factors, which are found in the
nucleus of every cell, bind to DNA to regulate gene expression. The ability to
selectively control specific genes is emerging as a critical tool in modern
biotechnology. Though there are many kinds of transcription factors, only ZFPs
are amenable to engineering and precise targeting to a particular gene or genes
of interest. By engineering ZFPs that recognize a specific DNA sequence Sangamo
scientists have created ZFP TFs(TM) that can control gene expression and
consequently, cell function. For example, Sangamo has demonstrated that plant
oils can be improved using ZFP TFs(TM).
Sangamo has also developed sequence-specific ZFNs(TM) for precision gene
modification and targeted gene insertion. These technologies have the potential
to play a major role in bringing new discoveries in genomics forward to the
marketplace. According to a 2004 International Service for the Acquisition of
Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) report, transgenic traits were planted on an
estimated 200 million acres, or 29 percent of the global acres for soybean,
cotton, maize, and canola. Phillips McDougall, international crop protection and
agricultural biotechnology consultants, estimates the value of agricultural
biotechnology in these crops for 2004 to be $4.7 billion. Both the acreage and
the value of agricultural biotechnology are expected to grow. This increasing
demand could be addressed by the use of Sangamo's ZFN and ZFP technologies for
combinations or stacks of multiple traits and new traits. Investments globally
in genomics are also revealing large numbers of genes with the potential to
substantially improve crop quality, expand crop uses and improve agronomic
performance.
About Dow AgroSciences, LLC
Dow AgroSciences LLC, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, is a global
leader in providing pest management, biotechnology and crop products that
improve the quality and quantity of the earth's food supply and contribute to
improving the health and quality of life of the world's growing population. Dow
AgroSciences has approximately 5,500 people in more than 50 countries dedicated
to its business, and has worldwide sales of US $3.4 billion. Dow AgroSciences is
a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company. For more information
about Dow AgroSciences, visit www.dowagro.com.
About Sangamo
Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. is focused on the research and development of
novel DNA-binding proteins for therapeutic gene regulation and modification. The
most advanced ZFP Therapeutic(TM) development programs are currently in Phase I
clinical trials for evaluation of safety in patients with diabetic neuropathy
and peripheral artery disease. Other therapeutic development programs are
focused on macular degeneration, ischemic heart disease, congestive heart
failure, neuropathic pain, and infectious and monogenic diseases. Sangamo's core
competencies enable the engineering of a class of DNA-binding proteins known as
zinc finger DNA-binding proteins (ZFPs). By engineering ZFPs that recognize a
specific DNA sequence Sangamo has created ZFP transcription factors (ZFP TF(TM))
that can control gene expression and, consequently, cell function. Sangamo is
also developing sequence-specific ZFP Nucleases (ZFN(TM)) for therapeutic gene
modification as a treatment for a variety of monogenic diseases, such as sickle
cell anemia, and for infectious diseases, such as HIV. For more information
about Sangamo, visit the company's web site at www.sangamo.com.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on Dow
AgroSciences LLC and Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.'s current expectations. These
forward-looking statements include, without limitation, references to the
research and development of novel ZFP TFs and ZFNs and applications of Sangamo's
ZFP technology platform. Actual results may differ materially from these
forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including technological
challenges, Dow AgroSciences ability to develop commercially viable products and
technological developments by our competitors. See the company's SEC filings,
and in particular, the risk factors described in the company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K and its most recent 10-Q. Dow AgroSciences and Sangamo BioSciences,
Inc. assume no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in
this press release.
SOURCE Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.
-0- 10/05/2005
/CONTACT: Elizabeth Wolffe, Ph.D of Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.,
+1-510-970-6000, ext. 271, or ewolffe@sangamo.com; or media, Justin Jackson,
+1-212-213-0006, or investors, John Cummings, +1-415-352-6262, both of Burns
McClellan, Inc., for Sangamo; or Robyn Heine, +1-317-337-4807, or
rheine@dow.com, for Dow AgroSciences/
/FCMN Contact: ewolffe@sangamo.com /
/Web site: http://www.dowagro.com/
/Web site: http://www.sangamo.com/
(SGMO DOW)