Vestaron Corporation Announces New Leadership

KALAMAZOO, Mich., April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Vestaron Corporation, a Kalamazoo-based company developing the next- generation of environmentally conscious insecticide products, announced today that John Sorenson, Ph.D., will serve as interim President and Chief Executive Officer. The Board of Directors thanks John McIntyre for his years of service leading to the development of breakthrough insecticides for agriculture.

"John's scientific leadership has been just what Vestaron needed to get us to where we are today," said Jim Schultz of Open Prairie Ventures, a major investor and board director. "We wish John well in his next endeavor."

John Sorenson, Ph.D., will serve as interim President and CEO and continue his current role as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Elin Miller will continue her role as Vice Chairman while the company searches for a new CEO. Vestaron has engaged Kincannon & Reed for the search, which has already begun.

"This is a critical and exciting time for our company with upcoming field trials this summer, which will set the stage for our registration submission. I am thrilled to take the helm," said Dr. Sorenson. Dr. Sorenson has a broad background in plant biotechnology, both in academe and in the private sector. In addition to serving as President of Biotechnology for Syngenta, he also served as President of Syngenta Seed, Inc. and held several positions in the Asgrow Seed Company. Sorenson began his career as Assistant and Associate Professor of Genetics at North Carolina State University.

Vestaron Corporation is a Kalamazoo, Mich.-based company that has been working for the past few years to develop insecticide products that are harmless to humans and other mammals and are environmentally conscious. Using the polypeptides found in spider venom, Vestaron which was formerly known as Venomix, Inc., has reported that its tests are seeing positive results against mosquitoes, caterpillars, flies and cockroaches.

Vestaron Corporation is a portfolio company of Open Prairie Ventures, an Effingham, Illinois- based venture capital firm with offices in Kalamazoo and Southwest Michigan First Life Science Fund.

SOURCE Vestaron Corporation