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.

Vestaron, a company dedicated to improving the efficacy and sustainability within crop protection and BFG Supply, have recently signed a distribution agreement to bring Spear-T to ornamental and greenhouse vegetable growers.  

“We are very excited to have the opportunity to partner with BFG Supply to bring this new technology to greenhouse growers.  BFG’s market presence and industry knowledge will be critical to expand the uses of not only Spear-T but also the new products following close behind,” explains Ben Cicora, SVP Sales & Marketing, “ 

Michigan-based developer of biologic crop protection products, is evaluating its options to accelerate its global expansion, said CEO Anna Rath.

“At one end of the spectrum, we could choose to sell international rights to our products and use that proceeds to further development in the US,” she said. “At the other end of the spectrum, we could decide to proceed with international registrations on our own, so that we maintain full ownership of all international rights and are then in a position to gain a larger share of the downstream value from the product.”

Vestaron wants farmers to know that its peptide-based products are different from existing microbial products, offering more consistent efficacy with the same environmental benefits.

Peptide-based biopesticide company Vestaron closed a $40 million Series B led by Danish life sciences group Novo Holdings alongside continuing investors Anterra Capital, Cultivian Sandbox, Open Prairie Ventures, and Pangaea Ventures.

Vestaron, a company dedicated to improving the safety, efficacy and sustainability of crop protection through its development of peptide-based biopesticides, announces its $40 million Series B Financing, led by Novo Holdings A/S.  Novo Holdings joins continuing investors Anterra Capital, Cultivian Sandbox, Open Prairie Ventures, and Pangaea Ventures.

Daniel Peck, Ph.D., is the most recent team member to join Vestaron Corp. As a Field Development Biologist, Peck began orientation by meeting the R&D team in Kalamazoo the week of April 15.

Daniel earned his bachelor’s degree in zoology and entomology from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and his doctorate in entomology from Cornell University. He is a Board Certified Entomologist with the Entomological Society of America and a Certified Senior Ecologist with the Ecological Society of America.