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Senesco Technologies Executes Licensing Deal with ArborGen

Submitted by: John Warner on Dec 28, 2006 at 2:06 pm Tagged with: Health Sciences, Uncategorized Source:

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Senesco Technologies, Inc. ("Senesco" or the "Company") (AMEX:SNT) and ArborGen, LLC, the Company’s forestry product co-development partner, announced the execution of a licensing agreement for exclusive use of the company’s technology for the enhancement of forestry products. Execution of the agreement follows ArborGen’s decision, announced in June 2006, to exercise its option to license Senesco’s technology based on positive field trial results.

As previously announced, Senesco and ArborGen have collaborated over the past four years in an effort to develop trees with greater biomass and shorter time to harvest. After three years of positive lab and greenhouse results, trees were established in the field in August 2004. At the end of the 2005 growing season, certain trees which were enhanced by the Senesco technology had approximately double the increase in volume relative to control trees.

Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

About Senesco Technologies, Inc.

Senesco has initiated preclinical research to trigger or delay cell death in mammals (apoptosis) to determine if its technology is applicable in human medicine. Accelerating apoptosis may have applications to the development of cancer treatments. Delaying apoptosis may have applications to certain diseases such as glaucoma, ischemia and arthritis, among others. Senesco takes its name from the scientific term for the aging of plant cells: senescence. The Company has developed technology that regulates the onset of cell death. Delaying cell breakdown in plants extends freshness after harvesting, while increasing crop yields, plant size and resistance to environmental stress for flowers, fruits and vegetables. In addition to its human health research programs, 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. Senesco is headquartered in New Brunswick, N.J.

About ArborGen, LLC.

ArborGen LLC, with headquarters in Summerville, SC, is a global leader in the research, development and commercialization of genetic technologies that will improve forest sustainability and productivity. ArborGen is developing commercially important technologies that will lead to improved forest management systems and forest product manufacturing processes. We are producing faster growing and sturdier trees that use less land and energy to process and will meet increasing wood product needs of a growing population. Growing these trees on planted forests offers the potential to protect and replenish native forests in all their diversity and complexity.