Aventis CropScience USA LP announced today that the company and an independent researcher have sued Monsanto Company over patents that cover transgenic cotton and methods for genetically modifying cotton. The patents are currently owned by Monsanto Company, and the lawsuit alleges that Monsanto has exploited the patents to exclude competition in transgenic cotton, which now represents about 65 percent of the cotton seed sold in the U.S. Monsanto markets transgenic cotton as Roundup Ready® and Bollgard® cotton, and Stoneville Pedigreed Seed Company markets BXN® varieties of cotton.

The lawsuit alleges the named inventor of the patents obtained the techniques for regenerating
transgenic cotton from Dr. Norma Trolinder during a period of their collaboration, but then failed to
include her as a co-inventor. Dr. Trolinder was then a graduate student at Texas Tech University, but was already recognized as an authority in cotton regeneration. As a co-inventor of the patents, Dr. Trolinder has the right under patent law to license the patents.

Dr. Trolinder and Texas Tech University have transferred their patent rights to Aventis, which will be developing transformed cotton in association with other Aventis companies and potential third-party partners, the company said.

"The impact is that Monsanto has been able to monopolize the transgenic cotton industry which is a disadvantage for this country's cotton growers,'' said Philippe Dumont, Head of Trait Management for Aventis CropScience. "Establishing Dr. Trolinder's rights will give other companies an opportunity to compete and bring other and better cotton traits to market which is good for cotton growers.''

The suit, filed here late Friday, also alleges that Monsanto has profited from Dr. Trolinder's invention to the detriment of Aventis and Dr. Trolinder and seeks compensation for that loss.

Dr. Trolinder and Aventis are represented by George Pazuniak of Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz in
Wilmington, Delaware. Plaintiffs are additionally represented by Richard Peet of Foley & Lardner of Washington, D.C. and the firm of McKleskey, Harriger, Brazill & Graf in Lubbock.

Aventis CropScience USA LP, headquartered in Research Triangle Park, N.C., is the North
American subsidiary of Aventis CropScience which is a major global crop protection and crop
production company also involved in leading environmental and public health activities. Committed to developing sustainable agriculture worldwide, Aventis CropScience focuses on researching,
developing and marketing innovative solutions that meet the needs of today's farming -- increased
yields, improved crop and food quality -- while striving to respect the environment.

With 1999 pro-forma sales of more than $4 billion, Aventis CropScience devotes more than 10
percent of its sales to the research and development of new chemicals, biotechnology and plant
varieties. It employs about 16,000 people in more than 120 countries worldwide. The business is part of Aventis, a global leader in Life Sciences. 

Roundup Ready® and Bollgard® are trademarks of Monsanto Company
BXN® is a registered trademark of the Aventis Group.

Company news release
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