Cibus Announces Important Update to Rice Gene Editing Conversion Rates

Rhea-AI Summary

Cibus (NASDAQ: CBUS) has issued a significant correction regarding previously reported rice gene editing conversion rates. The company acknowledged that the previously announced rates of 10-25% in Rice have not been reconfirmed, citing high variability in conversion rate data from subsequent experiments.

Despite this setback, Cibus continues to advance its oligonucleotide directed mutagenesis (ODM) editing technologies to improve editing conversion rates across various crops. The company maintains confidence in its Rapid Trait Development System™ (RTDS®) to meet customer requirements for trait editing in their germplasm through a time-bound and predictable process.

Positive

• None.

Negative

• Previously reported rice gene editing conversion rates of 10-25% could not be reconfirmed
• High variability detected in conversion rate data from subsequent experiments
• Correction of previously disclosed information indicates potential reliability issues in initial data reporting

Insights

Agricultural Biotechnology Analyst

This correction from Cibus represents a material setback that raises significant concerns about their core technology platform. The retraction of previously reported 10-25% gene editing conversion rates in rice - a important proof point for their technology - undermines confidence in their Rapid Trait Development System™ (RTDS®) platform.

The inability to replicate these conversion rates has several critical implications:

• The high variability in results suggests underlying technical challenges with their oligonucleotide directed mutagenesis (ODM) technology, potentially affecting their ability to deliver consistent results to customers.
• This setback could significantly impact Cibus's ability to secure new licensing agreements, as seed companies typically require robust and reproducible evidence of technology effectiveness before committing to partnerships.
• The timing of this correction, coming approximately one month after the initial announcement, raises questions about internal quality control and data validation processes.

While management maintains optimism about their technology's potential, the lack of reproducible data in rice - one of the world's most important food crops - creates uncertainty about the platform's commercial viability. In the competitive agricultural biotechnology sector, where CRISPR and other gene-editing technologies are showing consistent results, this setback could weaken Cibus's market position and potentially delay revenue generation from their trait licensing business model.

The company's focus on "time-bound and predictable process" in their statement appears to be at odds with the reported variability in results, suggesting a potential disconnect between technological capabilities and commercial promises. This situation may require significant additional R&D investment to resolve the variability issues and validate the technology's effectiveness.

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cibus, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBUS) (the “Company” or “Cibus”), a leading agricultural technology company that develops and licenses plant traits to seed companies for royalties, today issued a correction relating to the rice conversion rates previously disclosed in its January 16, 2025 press release. The Company has concluded that the gene editing conversion rates of 10-25% in Rice have not been reconfirmed based upon subsequent experiments and high variability in the conversion rate data. Cibus is continuing to advance its oligonucleotide directed mutagenesis (ODM) editing technologies to drive improved editing conversion rates across its developed traits across its crops of interest.

“Notwithstanding the variability experiment to experiment, we continue to believe that Cibus’ standardized high throughput, semi-automated, Rapid Trait Development System™ (RTDS^®) will deliver what our customers require, which is edits in their germplasm for traits with our time-bound and predictable process,” stated Greg Gocal, Chief Scientific Officer. “We remain excited by our technological and process advances to date and look forward to reporting on our future achievements.”

About Cibus

Cibus is a leader in gene edited productivity traits that address critical productivity and sustainability challenges for farmers such as diseases and pests which the United Nations estimates cost the global economy approximately $300 billion annually. Cibus is not a seed company. It is a technology company that uses gene editing to develop and license traits to seed companies in exchange for royalties on seed sales. Cibus’ long-term focus is productivity traits for farmers for the major global row crops with large acreage such as canola, rice, and soybean. Cibus is a technology leader in high-throughput gene editing technology that is expected to enable it to develop and commercialize plant traits at a fraction of the time and cost of conventional breeding. Cibus has developed a current pipeline of five productivity traits including important traits for weed management in Rice, Pod Shatter Reduction, and Sclerotinia (disease) resistance, which are its near-term focus.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “continue,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plans,” “predicts,” “projects,” “should,” “targets,” “will,” or the negative of these terms and other similar terminology. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding future Cibus technology and process developments, the development and commercialization of traits, the ability to successfully commercialize and operationalize any specific trait or platform, future operations, prospects, and plans.

These forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations and assumptions of Cibus’ management about future events, which are based on currently available information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and beyond the control of Cibus. Cibus’ actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements could be materially different than those expressed, implied, or anticipated by forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to: Cibus’ need for additional near-term funding to finance its activities and challenges in obtaining additional capital on acceptable terms, or at all; challenges that arise in respect of Cibus’ production of high-quality plants and seeds cost effectively on a large scale; changes in expected or existing competition, including competition from other traditional gene modification/plant breeding methodologies; challenges to Cibus’ intellectual property protection and unexpected costs associated with defending intellectual property rights; delays or disruptions in the Company’s platform or trait product development efforts, particularly with respect to its non-Rice and non-disease projects in light of the Company’s realigned strategic priorities; increased or unanticipated time and resources required for Cibus’ platform or trait product development efforts; Cibus’ ability to achieve commercial success; Cibus’ reliance on third parties in connection with its development activities; challenges associated with Cibus’ ability to effectively license its productivity traits and sustainable ingredient products; the risk that farmers do not recognize the value in germplasm containing Cibus’ traits or that farmers and processors fail to work effectively with crops containing Cibus’ traits; Cibus’ dependence on distributions from Cibus Global, LLC to pay taxes and cover its corporate and overhead expenses; regulatory developments that disfavor or impose significant burdens on gene-editing processes or products; delays and uncertainties regarding regulatory developments in the European Union; commodity prices and other market risks facing the agricultural sector; technological developments that could render Cibus’ technologies obsolete; changes in macroeconomic and market conditions, including inflation, supply chain constraints, and rising interest rates; dislocations in the capital markets and challenges in accessing liquidity and the impact of such liquidity challenges on Cibus’ ability to execute on its business plan; and other important factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of Cibus’ Annual Report on Form 10-K which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 21, 2024. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements.

In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent Cibus’ views as of the date hereof. Cibus specifically disclaims any obligation to update such forward-looking statements in the future, except as required under applicable law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Cibus’ views as of any date subsequent to the date hereof.

CIBUS CONTACTS:

INVESTOR RELATIONS
Karen Troeber
ktroeber@cibus.com
858-450-2636
Jeff Sonnek – ICR
jeff.sonnek@icrinc.com

MEDIA RELATIONS
media@cibus.com
Colin Sanford
colin@bioscribe.com
203-918-4347

FAQ

What was the correction Cibus (CBUS) made to its rice gene editing conversion rates?

Cibus announced that previously reported rice gene editing conversion rates of 10-25% could not be reconfirmed due to high variability in subsequent experimental data.

How does the February 2024 correction affect Cibus's (CBUS) rice gene editing program?

The correction indicates uncertainty in the company's rice gene editing conversion rates, though Cibus continues to advance its ODM editing technologies to improve conversion rates.

What technology does Cibus (CBUS) use for gene editing in rice?

Cibus uses oligonucleotide directed mutagenesis (ODM) editing technologies and their proprietary Rapid Trait Development System™ (RTDS®) for gene editing.

When did Cibus (CBUS) originally report the rice conversion rates that needed correction?

The original rice conversion rates were disclosed in Cibus's January 16, 2025 press release.