Company Profile

Lepidext was founded by a team of scientitsts who worked out that the strain of a naturally-occurring corn earworm virus that caused fewer latent cases would have potential as a biocontrol for the corn earworm. Pesticide resistance has become a serious threat to US agriculture with some Insects - eg corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea) -- evolving resistance so rapidly that many recent-developed insecticides are already ineffective. Resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins expressed in transgenic crops has become such a serious threat to food and fiber security such that new agents and methods to combat Bt resistance are desperately needed. Lepidext has identified one such agent: InsterusHz, a sterilizing insect virus that can be a viable biocontrol against outbreaks of Bt-resistant corn earworm.