DNA Plant Technology Corp. (DNAP) reached an agreement inprinciple to license its Transwitch gene suppression technology toZeneca Ltd. in exchange for an undisclosed cash payment and non-exclusive global rights to Zeneca's ethylene control technology in allplants, the companies said Tuesday."We hope this is the beginning of a lot of relationships with Zeneca,"David Evans, vice president of business development for DNAP, toldBioWorld. "We have a lot of overlapping interests."Evans said the agreement between DNAP of Cinnaminson, N.J., andU.K.-based Zeneca, which operates in the U.S. out of Wilmington,Del., should be completed in 30 days.The Transwitch technology is a method for turning off genes in plants,used to improve taste, texture, yield and shelf life. Zeneca's technologyis based on turning off genes involved in the ethylene regulationprocess common to many fruits and vegetables. _ Jim Shrine041394ZENECA

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