ArborGen and Senesco Announce Wood Quality Results
07 July 2009 - 10:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
SUMMERVILLE, S.C., July 7 /PRNewswire/ -- ArborGen, LLC, a leader
in forest tree improvement technologies, today announced wood
quality results from ongoing field trials that are utilizing
technology in-licensed from Senesco Technologies, Inc. (NYSE AMEX:
SNT). The two companies had previously announced that trees that
incorporate Senesco technology have shown significantly enhanced
growth rates in 3-year-old field trials. Selected trees from the
field trials were harvested and their wood chemistry and density
was assessed. There were no differences in key economic
characteristics of wood, such as lignin, cellulose, and specific
gravity, between the trees with the enhanced growth attributes and
untreated control trees. This is good news as fast tree growth is
often associated with lower wood quality. "With several years of
positive field trials, Senesco's technology has certainly given us
confidence in the consistency of performance of this technology,"
said Barbara Wells, Ph.D., president and CEO of ArborGen. "Our
collaboration with Senesco continues to produce very promising
results that we expect will ultimately add to our portfolio of
forestry products." Bruce Galton, President and CEO of Senesco,
said, "We believe ArborGen's results represent another step toward
the commercial validation of our technology in the hands of our
licensing partners. Partnering with companies with ArborGen's
expertise allows for development of our technology for agricultural
applications, while our internal research and development remains
focused on our near term goal of filing an Investigational New Drug
application with the FDA for our ongoing oncology work in multiple
myeloma. We believe these results further reaffirm the broad
applicability of Senesco's technology." About ArborGen, LLC
ArborGen is a leader in tree improvement and the commercial
production of trees. We are dedicated to helping the global forest
industry meet the growing demand for wood, pulp & paper, and
energy in a more productive and sustainable way. Enabling more wood
to be grown on less land helps conserve the world's native forests
in all their beauty, diversity and complexity. With one of the
world's most extensive tree germplasm resources, ArborGen uses both
traditional breeding and advanced genetic technologies, to discover
and produce high yield seedlings for our customers, allowing our
customers to significantly increase the productivity of their
forests and manufacturing processes. Our mission is to deliver
superior performing trees through innovative science and world
class customer service -- every tree, every time. For more
information, please visit http://www.arborgen.com/. About Senesco
Technologies, Inc. Senesco Technologies, Inc. is a U.S.
biotechnology company, headquartered in New Brunswick, NJ. Senesco
has initiated preclinical research to trigger or delay cell death
in mammals (apoptosis) to determine if the technology is applicable
in human medicine. Accelerating apoptosis may have applications to
development of cancer treatments. Delaying apoptosis may have
applications to certain inflammatory and ischemic diseases. Senesco
takes its name from the scientific term for the aging of plant
cells: senescence. Delaying cell breakdown in plants extends
freshness after harvesting, while increasing crop yields, plant
size and resistance to environmental stress. The Company believes
that its technology can be used to develop superior strains of
crops without any modification other than delaying natural plant
senescence. Senesco has partnered with leading-edge companies
engaged in agricultural biotechnology and earns research and
development fees for applying its gene-regulating platform
technology to enhance its partners' products. Certain statements
included in this press release are forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. Actual results could differ materially from such
statements expressed or implied herein as a result of a variety of
factors, including, but not limited to: the ability of Senesco to
consummate a financing; the development of Senesco's gene
technology; the approval of Senesco's patent applications; the
successful implementation of Senesco's research and development
programs and joint ventures; the success of Senesco's license
agreements; the acceptance by the market of Senesco's products;
success of Senesco's preliminary studies and preclinical research;
competition and the timing of projects and trends in future
operating performance, Senesco's ability to meet its funding
milestones under its financing transaction, Senesco's ability to
continue to comply with the continued listing standards of the
AMEX, as well as other factors expressed from time to time in
Senesco's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC"). As a result, this press release should be
read in conjunction with Senesco's periodic filings with the SEC.
The forward-looking statements contained herein are made only as of
the date of this press release, and Senesco undertakes no
obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to
reflect subsequent events or circumstances. Senesco Investor
Contact: Brian Ritchie FD Phone: (212) 850-5600 E-mail: ArborGen
Contact: Nancy M. Hood Director of Communication & Public
Affairs Phone: (843) 851-5077 Cell: (843) 323-1509 E-mail:
DATASOURCE: ArborGen, LLC CONTACT: Investors, Brian Ritchie of FD,
for Senesco, +1-212-850-5600, ; or Nancy M. Hood, Director of
Communication & Public Affairs of ArborGen, +1-843-851-5077,
Cell, +1-843-323-1509, Web Site: http://www.arborgen.com/
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