Three years ago Phytodyne, Inc. was the dream of two Iowa State University scientists. Today the Company is making a significant step forward in its goal of revolutionizing plant biotechnology by moving into new labs and offices.

Phytodyne, Inc., a developer of novel biotechnology techniques for improving plants, has moved into new laboratories and offices in the Iowa State University Research Park as part of a planned expansion. The 4200 square foot facility was built to Phytodyne's specifications.

The move will significantly enhance the Company's ability to conduct research and product development. The location also provides for further expansion opportunities as the Company continues to meet business and research goals.

As a member of the ISU Research Park, Phytodyne will also conduct research by utilizing ISU's advanced biotechnology support facilities through access to greenhouses, DNA sequencing, electron microscopy, and other facilities.

Phytodyne was founded in 2000 by Drs. Daniel Voytas and David Wright based on their discovery of plant retroviruses at Iowa State University's Plant Sciences Institute. Their discoveries are now the basis for the Company's key technologies. The technologies allow the insertion of new genes or the modification of existing genes within a plant to be achieved in less time and with more precision than do current methods.

Grants from the National Institutes of Health, Iowa State's Center for Advanced Technology Development and equity financing from John Pappajohn launched Phytodyne. Additional grant funding and equity financing were secured and the Company has met or exceeded business and research goals outlined in its business plan.

"Moving into new state-of-the art labs in the ISU Research Park will allow us to expand our research to develop faster and more accurate methods to genetically improve crop plants," said Dr. Voytas, president of Phytodyne. "We're on track with our plans to move our technologies into the marketplace for practical usage. It is gratifying to see this tangible growth in our facilities and also satisfying to be on target for our investors and our employees."

Phytodyne currently employs eight full-time scientists in biotechnology research and product development. According to Jon Leafstedt, Phytodyne's chief operating officer, the Company will add research positions in the near future. The new research facility provides space to more than double its research staff.

Phytodyne is a privately held company providing novel genome modification technologies for improvement of plants. The speed, accuracy and flexibility of these technologies, along with Phytodyne's intellectual property positions, will eliminate barriers to markets that currently constrain companies relying on traditional methods for plant transformation and genome modification. Phytodyne provides contract research services for seed companies and plant biotechnology firms. The Company's technologies can also be licensed to companies preferring to conduct in-house genome modification.