Burcon enters Puratein and Supertein test agreements

07/08/06 Burcon NutraScience Corporation has announced that it has entered into material transfer agreements with some of the world's foremost food and beverage companies. The material transfer agreements will enable Burcon to provide samples of Burcon's proteins; Puratein and Supertein to food and beverage companies for testing while protecting certain intellectual property interests of all of the parties involved. Puratein is a high molecular weight protein and is comparable in characteristics to egg yolk. Supertein, a low molecular weight protein, is more comparable to egg white.

Material transfer agreements are contracts that govern the transfer of tangible research materials between two or more organizations, when the recipient intends to use the materials for its own research purposes. The MTA's that are the subject of this announcement are three-way contracts among Burcon, Archer Daniels Midland and certain major food and beverage companies. These MTA's define the rights and obligations of Burcon and ADM, but just as importantly they define the rights and obligations of the food and beverage companies who are the recipient with respect to the proteins and any derivatives thereof. The rights defined include intellectual property issues, confidentiality terms and matters governing the publication of findings.

"Burcon is excited about having samples of its proteins analyzed by the scientists and other professionals at these major food and beverage companies," stated Johann F. Tergesen, Burcon's President & COO who added, "We view this as an important step in the commercialization of Puratein and Supertein."

Discussions among Burcon, ADM and additional food and beverage companies are ongoing and it is anticipated that further three-way MTA's will be entered into in the future.