SBIR Phase I: Novel Advanced Nematicides with Improved Efficacy and Safety

This SBIR Phase I project will develop novel nematicides using proprietary chemical design and screening methods. The project will first design, prioritize, and synthesize a set of entirely novel molecules. The project will then evaluate compounds for activity in multiple biological assays with parasitic nematodes and plants. Promising scaffolds will be prioritized for further development in Phase II including assessment of toxicity, manufacturing cost, and additional synthetic opportunities. The broader/commercial impact of the project will be to protect crops against nematodes which result in significant benefit to growers and the environment. The potential value to Divergence is very large, with the current nematicide market of $1 billion under representing the actual value that could be generated. REsulting effective nematicides with superior safety to current prodicts will be of immediate benefit to growers, consumers, and the environment.