Calyxt Identifies More Than 15,000 Unique Chemical Signatures in Lab-Scale BioFactory™ Production Run

ROSEVILLE, Minn., Dec. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Calyxt, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLXT), a plant-based synthetic biotechnology company, today announced the completion of a key milestone in its lab-scale BioFactory™ manufacturing system. The results identified through the Company's metabolomics analyses indicate over 15,000 chemical signatures, including both known and as-yet-uncharacterized molecules and building block precursors, chemical compounds involved in chemical reactions that produce other compounds. These chemical signatures form a baseline library available for Calyxt to produce valuable compounds within its proprietary plant-based biomanufacturing system.

"With this technical milestone, Calyxt builds on our earlier proofs of concept and bolsters our commercial discussions, particularly because the families of chemistries identified in these results perform important functions as active ingredients in certain of our target markets, like cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals," said Michael A. Carr, President and Chief Executive Officer at Calyxt. "The promise of the BioFactory – to enable our customers to more sustainably access finite botanical ingredients – is one step closer to being realized through these results."

The metabolomics analyses have identified molecules across a diverse and valuable group of chemical classes including terpenoids, flavonoids, phenolics, alkaloids, and sterols, plus chemical signatures that may represent new, previously uncharacterized plant-based molecules. In addition, Calyxt has recently completed gene-expression profiling that has identified patterns of genes that can be used to engineer precursor molecules for conversion to an even broader suite of chemistries.

"These impactful results build on our previously reported successes with two proofs of concept, ovalbumin egg white protein and the antioxidant betanin. Early research indicated our multicellular plant cell matrices would be capable of producing a diverse group of chemistries, and that is supported by the analysis announced today. This broad set of building blocks provide important tools as we seek to engineer the new and innovative chemistries our customers are expected to demand," said Travis Frey, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer at Calyxt. "From here, guided by customers' needs and our proprietary metabolite engineering capabilities, we anticipate the optimization of target molecule production and performance at greater scale."

Calyxt's BioFactory will produce the target products, first at lab volumes, then at pilot, and ultimately at manufacturing scale.  The Company's pilot BioFactory is currently being installed at its Roseville, Minnesota, headquarters and is on track to be operational by the end of 2021. 

About Calyxt:
Calyxt (Nasdaq: CLXT) is a plant-based synthetic biotechnology company. The Company leverages its proprietary PlantSpring™ technology platform to engineer innovative materials and products for its customers to help them meet their sustainability goals. Calyxt's diversified offerings are primarily delivered through its proprietary BioFactory™ production system. For more information, visit www.calyxt.com.

PlantSpring, BioFactory, and the Calyxt logo are trademarks of Calyxt, Inc. Any other trademarks belong to their respective owners.

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 statements about Calyxt's product pipeline and development; Calyxt's ability to utilize the BioFactory to engineer precursor molecules and to convert these to broader chemistries demanded by potential customers; Calyxt's ability to achieve target molecule production and performance at greater scale; and the commercial demand for Calyxt's synthetic biology solutions. These and other forward-looking statements are predictions and projections about future events and trends based on Calyxt's current expectations, objectives, and intentions and are premised on current assumptions. Calyxt's 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: the impact of increased competition, including competition from a broader array of synthetic biology companies; disruptions at Calyxt's key facilities, including disruptions impacting its BioFactory production system; changes in customer preferences and market acceptance of Calyxt's products; competition for customers, partners, and licensees and the successful execution of development and licensing agreements; the impact of adverse events during development, including unsuccessful pilot production of compounds or generation of inconsistent data; disruptions to supply chains, including raw material inputs for Calyxt's BioFactory; the impact of changes or increases in oversight and regulation; disputes or challenges regarding intellectual property; proliferation and continuous evolution of new technologies; and other important factors discussed under the caption entitled "Risk Factors" in Calyxt's Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings on Form 10-Q or Form 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements made by Calyxt's management are based only on information currently available to it when, and speak only as of the date, such statement is made. Calyxt does not assume any obligation to publicly provide revisions or updates to any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by law.

Contacts:

Calyxt Media Contact:
David Rosen/John Garabo/Michael Barron
Argot Partners
(212) 600-1902
[email protected]

Calyxt Investor Relations Contact:
Sherri Spear/Cameron Willis
Argot Partners
(212) 600-1902
[email protected]

Calyxt Business Development Contact:
Sarah Reiter
Calyxt, Inc.
(612) 427-7881
[email protected]

SOURCE Calyxt, Inc.