Wilbur-Ellis, a recognized leader in precision agriculture, crop protection, seed, nutritional and biological products, in cooperation with Vestaron Corporation, announced today a distribution agreement to semi-exclusively distribute Spear® LEP, an innovative bioinsecticide manufactured by Vestaron.

AN INTERVIEW WITH ANNA RATH: “We face greater scrutiny as well, particularly in the context of fundraising, but when we are able to clear this hurdle, then the distinctiveness can lead to a mindshare benefit for the company”

With few products approved for use on hemp, Vestaron Corporation is pleased to announce that its Spear® LEP bioinsecticide has received EPA approval for adding Hemp to the label.

Vestaron Corporation announces that its Leprotec® Btk bioinsecticide (Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki) is now registered in all 50 states, with its recent California state registration.
Leprotec® is a versatile liquid formulation of the lepidopteran-active Bt kurstaki strain EVB-113-19.  This bioinsecticide may be used in a wide range of crops including outdoor food, non-food and greenhouse crops for control of loopers, worms and other caterpillars

Bringing experience from some of the top names in California crop protection, Noel Cornejo has been hired as a Central Valley sales representative by Vestaron Corporation to support its peptide-based bioinsecticides.

“Vestaron is at an exciting crossroad,” Rath says. “We have in place the key executives, field staff, manufacturing and commercial capabilities to market and meet demands of the Spear product line.”

A few decades ago, the pharmaceutical industry began to undergo a transformation. Previously, research and development in the industry had been predominantly focused on small molecule synthetics and was predominantly conducted by internal R&D groups within the major companies. This model came under pressure as easier targets were addressed, patents on early blockbusters began expiring, and it became clear that while small molecules were effective against their intended targets, they also often had

Boosted by $40 million in private equity money, Vestaron is transitioning from a company that does only research and development to one that produces and markets its own line of crop protection products.

Vestaron boasts a proprietary platform for the optimization and production of peptide-based biopesticides.

When Anna Rath signed on as CEO of Vestaron Corp. 15 months ago, the company was preparing to transition from a focus on R&D to commercializing a line of new environmentally friendly insecticides. 

Since then, the Kalamazoo-based Vestaron put in place a senior management team led by Rath, built up internal capabilities, brought its first products to market, formed its first distribution relationships, moved contract production from Europe to the Midwest, and secured $40 million in financing “from a really top-shelf group of investors.”

Since then, the Kalamazoo-based Vestaron put in place a senior management team led by Rath, built up internal capabilities, brought its first products to market, formed its first distribution relationships, moved contract production from Europe to the Midwest, and secured $40 million in financing “from a really top-shelf group of investors.”

Vestaron welcomes aboard Kira Bennett as the new sales representative in the PNW!  Kira joins the team from Corteva after having worked to develop the PNW market for them over the past 12 years.  Her primary role will be working to develop Spear® LEP and Spear®-T in Washington and Oregon and add new distribution partners to gain additional market share.