Divergence Receives USDA SBIR Grant for Anthelmintic Chemistry

St. Louis (October 3, 2005) -

Divergence, Inc. announced that it has been awarded $296,000 in a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research ("SBIR") grant from the United States Department of Agriculture ("USDA"). The grant is focused on the testing and development of anthelmintic compounds, work led by Principal Investigator Michelle Hresko, Ph.D., Senior Director of Discovery Research.

"Divergence has made great progress with a number of compounds demonstrating anti-parasitic efficacy," said James McCarter, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Scientific Officer. "We are gratified to receive the support from the USDA in our optimization and advancement of these compounds, and we are hopeful that Divergence's research will generate safe and effective products for the prevention and control of parasitic infections in a variety of commercial markets. Opportunities are quite compelling in many markets, including livestock. Control of parasitic nematodes in livestock markets depends on chemical classes discovered more than two decades ago. The significant economic burden of diseases resulting from parasitic infection and the evolution of drug-resistant parasites make it imperative that novel and effective anthelmintics be brought to market."

Divergence is a research and development company dedicated to the discovery of effective and ecologically sound strategies for the control of parasites and other pests. The company's primary focus is on parasitic nematodes, one of the world's major pest groups. Nematodes are roundworms that cause billions of dollars in damage annually to numerous crops, including soybeans, cotton, strawberries, and bananas. Nematodes also cause widespread disease in animals, including infections such as heartworm in dogs and cats and intestinal worms in livestock. Nematode-induced human diseases include elephantiasis and African river blindness.


For more information on Divergence, visit www.divergence.com.