Immunity enhanced silkworms provide licensing opportunities into the broader $14B¹ silk industry

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Oct. 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTCQB: KBLB) (“Company” or “Kraig Labs”), the biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of spider silk, announces today that it has begun challenge testing on of its immunity enhanced silkworms. These silkworms were developed by Kraig Labs to combat viral and fungal infections that result in significant losses in global silk production.

As much as 50% of losses in global silk production are the result of a single virus. Up to 75% of all silk producers have reported losses from this virus, according to a 2020 research paper. These losses account for millions and potentially billions of dollars of lost economic production each year. Often found in soil and plants – quickly spread and with no effective treatment – this virus can be devastating to small and large producers alike. With this announcement, Kraig Labs is creating a solution for the global $14B silk market.

By adapting its genetic engineering technologies, used to produce recombinant spider silk, Kraig Labs has developed multiple lines of silkworms that incorporate a genetic defense against this virus and other prominent silkworm diseases. As designed, the silkworm’s immune system will target and eliminate any copy of the virus DNA, preventing the spread of infection and loss.

Having built a sizeable colony of these immunity-enhanced silkworms, the Company is now undergoing challenge testing at a controlled offsite test location. This remote offsite location was selected to prevent the potential introduction and spread of the virus into Kraig Labs R&D headquarters.

These new disease-resistant silkworms are intended for licensing into the global market for mundane silks to combat key pathogenic viruses and fungi. The Company expects to make these lines of resilient silkworms available for commercial licensing upon the conclusion of successful challenge testing and intends to incorporate this technology into all of its lines of spider silk transgenics.

“With testing now underway, we are excited to see the potential that these new silkworm strains can bring to the broader sericulture industry,” said the Company’s COO, Jon Rice. “Combating these silkworm diseases is an industry-wide challenge. Bringing licensable, immunity-enhanced silkworms to the global silk market advances our business model and aligns with our core focus in commercializing cost-effective and environmentally responsible recombinant spider silk.”  

To view the most recent news from Kraig Labs and/or to sign up for Company alerts, please go to www.KraigLabs.com/news.

About Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc.

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (www.KraigLabs.com), a fully reporting biotechnology company, is a developer of genetically engineered spider silk based fiber technologies.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

Statements in this press release about the Company’s future and expectations other than historical facts are “forward-looking statements.” These statements are made on the basis of management’s current views and assumptions. As a result, there can be no assurance that management’s expectations will necessarily come to pass. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as “believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “foresees,” “estimated,” “hopes,” “if,” “develops,” “researching,” “research,” “pilot,” “potential,” “could” or other words or phrases of similar import. Forward looking statements include descriptions of the Company’s business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions and goals. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security.

Ben Hansel, Hansel Capital, LLC
(720) 288-8495
ir@KraigLabs.com

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Oct. 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTCQB: KBLB) (“Company” or “Kraig Labs”), the biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of spider silk, announces today that its research team has surpassed a crucial milestone in the creation and production of new recombinant spider silks and other key target proteins. The Company is now raising several batches of first-generation transgenics utilizing this new and more efficient process.

These transgenics represent the first implementation of this new knock-out/knock-in multiplex system for silkworms developed by Kraig Labs’ research team. The new approach results in a greater than 60% reduction in process complexity when creating new transgenics and should result in significantly higher yields. Pairing multiplex targeting with co-expression of trans-proteins, this new system should allow the Company to achieve homozygous, germline stable, new transgenics in a fraction of the time.  

Kraig Labs’ research team will monitor these first-generation transgenics over the next 30 days to verify improvements over existing systems. The Company’s research team has already prepared and filed a potential provisional patent to protect this new novel technology.

“Today’s announcement is just the latest in a string of incredible breakthroughs from our research lab. Our team continues to defy conventional wisdom, finding almost unimaginable solutions and unlocking the potential for cost-effective, commercial-scale spider silk production,” said COO Jon Rice. “This breakthrough is the direct result of our exceptionally creative research team. Through an intentional process of seeking out diverse backgrounds and experiences for all positions throughout the organization, we have built a truly extraordinary team.”

While now focused on improving the production of recombinant spider silk, this new gene system is directly applicable to the Company’s accelerating work in non-fibrous and boutique protein production.

To view the most recent news from Kraig Labs and/or to sign up for Company alerts, please go to www.KraigLabs.com/news.

About Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc.

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (www.KraigLabs.com), a fully reporting biotechnology company, is a developer of genetically engineered spider silk based fiber technologies.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

Statements in this press release about the Company’s future and expectations other than historical facts are “forward-looking statements.” These statements are made on the basis of management’s current views and assumptions. As a result, there can be no assurance that management’s expectations will necessarily come to pass. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as “believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “foresees,” “estimated,” “hopes,” “if,” “develops,” “researching,” “research,” “pilot,” “potential,” “could” or other words or phrases of similar import. Forward looking statements include descriptions of the Company’s business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions and goals. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security.

Ben Hansel, Hansel Capital, LLC
(720) 288-8495
ir@KraigLabs.com

Immunity enhanced silkworms provide licensing opportunities into the broader $14 B¹ silk industry

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Sept. 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTCQB: KBLB) (“Company” or “Kraig Labs”), the biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of spider silk, announces today that it is preparing to conduct challenge testing on two lines of immunity enhanced silkworms. These silkworm lines were developed by Kraig Labs to combat two of the biggest challenges facing the global silk production industry.

It has been reported that as much as 50% of all losses in silk production result from a single widespread virus. A 2020 paper cited that 75% of all interviewer silkworm raisers reported losses due to this disease. With no effective treatment, this virus results in countless millions of dollars of economic annually. Kraig Labs realized that technologies it was developing for other applications could be used to significantly reduce these losses in the broader silk industry. The Company has made rapid progress in the development of this new technology.

Specifically designed to target and combat this virus and other pathogens, these new transgenics developed by Kraig Labs, are now preparing to undergo challenge testing. These new disease-resistant lines of silkworms are intended for licensing into the global market for mundane silks to combat pathogenic viruses and fungi. The Company expects to make these lines of resilient silkworms available for commercial licensing shortly after the conclusion of successful challenge testing.

“We are very excited to begin challenge testing for these immunity enhanced silkworm lines,” said COO Jon Rice. “Our intention is to license this technology to silk produces all over the world. This program to produce licensable commercial lines of more robust silkworms is the perfect complement to our core focus, the commercialization of Kraig’s eco-friendly recombinant spider silk.”

To view the most recent news from Kraig Labs and/or to sign up for Company alerts, please go to www.KraigLabs.com/news.

___________________

¹ From New Analysis from Global Industry Analysts Reveals Steady Growth for Silk, with the Market to Reach $21 Billion Worldwide by 2026, read more at: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-analysis-from-global-industry-analysts-reveals-steady-growth-for-silk-with-the-market-to-reach-21-billion-worldwide-by-2026-301377060.htm

About Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc.

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (www.KraigLabs.com), a fully reporting biotechnology company, is a developer of genetically engineered spider silk based fiber technologies.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

Statements in this press release about the Company’s future and expectations other than historical facts are “forward-looking statements.” These statements are made on the basis of management’s current views and assumptions. As a result, there can be no assurance that management’s expectations will necessarily come to pass. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as “believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “foresees,” “estimated,” “hopes,” “if,” “develops,” “researching,” “research,” “pilot,” “potential,” “could” or other words or phrases of similar import. Forward looking statements include descriptions of the Company’s business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions and goals. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security.

Ben Hansel, Hansel Capital, LLC
(720) 288-8495
ir@KraigLabs.com

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Sept. 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTCQB: KBLB) (“Company” or “Kraig Labs”), the biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of spider silk, announces today that it has delivered the first fabric samples to Spydasilk Enterprises (“Spydasilk”). These fabric blends will serve as the basis for developing the Company’s first line of recombinant spider silk apparel.

Spydasilk, a Singapore-based joint venture between Kraig Labs and Kings Group, was formed to produce, market, and sell spider silk-based apparel into the ASEAN region.

These first sample fabrics blend traditional silk with cotton to produce a composite, blended material in line with the design specification requested by the Kings Group’s lead designer. Once these sample fabrics have been tested and approved, the Company plans to begin weaving several thousand yards of finished fabric incorporating its recombinant spider silk.   

The delivery of these fabrics samples marks a significant milestone for the Company, Spydasilk, and the re-opening of Vietnam’s economy. The textile mill that Kraig Labs partnered with to reel and weave its specialized silk, which was closed due to COVID-19, has now re-opened.

“The delivery of the first composite fabrics to Spydasilk is a major advancement for the Company. This first delivery brings us ever closer to the public launch of Spydasilk’s first apparel line and our vision for large-scale commercialization of environmentally responsible and cost-effective spider silk,” said Jon Rice, COO of Kraig Labs.

To view the most recent news from Kraig Labs and/or to sign up for Company alerts, please go to www.KraigLabs.com/news.

About Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc.

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (www.KraigLabs.com), a fully reporting biotechnology company, is a developer of genetically engineered spider silk based fiber technologies.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

Statements in this press release about the Company’s future and expectations other than historical facts are “forward-looking statements.” These statements are made on the basis of management’s current views and assumptions. As a result, there can be no assurance that management’s expectations will necessarily come to pass. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as “believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “foresees,” “estimated,” “hopes,” “if,” “develops,” “researching,” “research,” “pilot,” “potential,” “could” or other words or phrases of similar import. Forward looking statements include descriptions of the Company’s business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions and goals. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security.

Ben Hansel, Hansel Capital, LLC
(720) 288-8495
ir@KraigLabs.com

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Sept. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTCQB: KBLB) (“the Company” or “Kraig Labs”), the leading developer of spider silk-based fibers, announces that it is now rearing the second generation of silkworms at the new production headquarters for Prodigy Textiles (“Prodigy”), the Company’s Vietnamese subsidiary.  

Prodigy successfully completed rearing the first batch of the Company’s specialized silkworms at its new production headquarters in August. Kraig Labs recently moved its Vietnam-based production operations to a new facility located in the heart of agriculture in Vietnam. When originally built, this facility was specifically designed for silkworm rearing and silk production. The Company’s factory is now closer to the farms and fields where Prodigy’s mulberry is harvested, providing greater access to raw materials and reducing production costs.

“I could not be more impressed with our team in Vietnam and the unwavering dedication to making Prodigy and Kraig Labs an undeniable success,” said COO Jon Rice. “Having seamlessly completed the move to the new facility and with the kick-off of the second generation of production there, we are well on the way to revolutionizing the global silk markets.”

The current easing of Covid-19 restrictions, in parts of Vietnam, has allowed the Company to move forward with the construction of finished goods. Kraig Labs is now accelerating the production and evaluation of custom-designed fabric blends for its Spydasilk brand.

To view the most recent news from Kraig Labs and/or to sign up for Company alerts, please go to www.KraigLabs.com/news   

About Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc.

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (www.KraigLabs.com), a reporting biotechnology company is the leading developer of genetically engineered spider silk based fiber technologies.

The Company has achieved a series of scientific breakthroughs in the area of spider silk technology with implications for the global textile industry.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

Statements in this press release about the Company’s future and expectations other than historical facts are “forward-looking statements.” These statements are made on the basis of management’s current views and assumptions. As a result, there can be no assurance that management’s expectations will necessarily come to pass. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as “believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “foresees,” “estimated,” “hopes,” “if,” “develops,” “researching,” “research,” “pilot,” “potential,” “could” or other words or phrases of similar import. Forward looking statements include descriptions of the Company’s business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions and goals. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security.

Ben Hansel, Hansel Capital, LLC
(720) 288-8495
ir@KraigLabs.com

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Aug. 27, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTCQB: KBLB) (“the Company” or “Kraig Labs”), the leading developer of spider silk-based fibers, announces today that it has been granted patent protection for its recombinant spider silk technologies in the European Union.

Securing patent protection for the Company’s recombinant spider silk materials in this major consumer market is a significant milestone for spider silk commercialization. These protections will provide the Company greater control over the use of its revolutionary spider silk materials. Beyond protections for the Company’s core focus in fibers and textiles, this growing list of patents allows for an expanded set of applications for the unique properties offered by spider silk.

Market Data Forecast predicts that the value of the European silk market will reach $2 billion by 2026.

“Securing the patent protections for our recombinant spider silk in Europe is a major milestone for Kraig,” said COO Jon Rice. “Europe marks the largest single consumer market where we have been secured IP protection for our silk. Based on the interest we are seeing, we expect that it will be one of the first markets where consumers are introduced to products based on spider silk.”

While the primary focus of the Company remains on textiles, garments, and fiber-based applications for its recombinant spider silk technology, ongoing research efforts at Kraig Labs have opened several new doors. The Company has been developing gels, powders, and liquid base applications for its specialized silk. These efforts have recently resulted in a significant breakthrough in our production of hydrolyzed spider silk. The Company expects to provide more details on the commercialization and sales of these new materials in the coming weeks.

To view the most recent news from Kraig Labs and/or to sign up for Company alerts, please go to: www.KraigLabs.com/news

About Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc.

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (www.KraigLabs.com), a reporting biotechnology company is the leading developer of genetically engineered spider silk based fiber technologies.

The Company has achieved a series of scientific breakthroughs in the area of spider silk technology with implications for the global textile industry.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

Statements in this press release about the Company’s future and expectations other than historical facts are “forward-looking statements.” These statements are made on the basis of management’s current views and assumptions. As a result, there can be no assurance that management’s expectations will necessarily come to pass. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as “believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “foresees,” “estimated,” “hopes,” “if,” “develops,” “researching,” “research,” “pilot,” “potential,” “could” or other words or phrases of similar import. Forward looking statements include descriptions of the Company’s business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions and goals. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security.

Ben Hansel, Hansel Capital, LLC
(720) 288-8495
ir@KraigLabs.com

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Aug. 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTCQB: KBLB) (“the Company” or “Kraig Labs”), the leading developer of spider silk-based fibers, announces today the opening of a new spider silk production factory located in Vietnam. The nearly 10-acre campus was custom built as a production silkworm rearing and breeding facility. The Company identified this property as the ideal location for its recombinant spider silk product during a site survey trip in 2017 and has been working for several years to secure the leasing rights. Kraig Labs can now report that it has acquired the leasing rights on this facility after several rounds of negotiations with the facility owner.

This new campus includes multiple buildings with dedicated production and research laboratory spaces and more than 7 acres of fertile fields for cultivating the mulberry feedstocks to support production operations.

Located in the temperate lowlands, this new facility receives ample water for irrigating fields and is shielded from the extreme temperature fluctuations that impacted the Company’s first factory. This facility is located in the heart of the agricultural districts, near the Company’s existing mulberry fields that were planted in partnership with local farming co-operatives. Proximity to this key feedstock significantly reduces the cost and logistics of shipping in additional mulberry feed.

The Company’s Vietnamese subsidiary, Prodigy Textiles, has already completed transitioning production operations to the new facility. The first batch of recombinant spider silk cocoons has already been completed at this new headquarters for Prodigy Textiles. Rearing operations at this new facility are scheduled to continue expanding as we bring more rearing suites online in order to supply Spydasilk Enterprises.

The continuing rise of COVID-19 related measures has affected some aspects of the Company’s operations. Kraig Labs has not been able to procure the laboratory equipment planned to improve its onsite quality control screening operations. However, Prodigy’s production operations have remained mostly unaffected. The Company has now wholly transitioned all of its production to this new complex and has remained in continuous operation. Over the coming weeks, it will further expand its rearing operations to take advantage of the newly increased access to fresh mulberry.

“I am very excited to finally be able to publicly announce that we have secured the lease on this tailor-built silk production factory. I first toured this property on one of our site surveys many years ago, and Kraig Labs has been trying to acquire the lease rights to this facility for several years,” said COO Jon Rice. “The property puts us in the heart of agriculture districts and, for the first time, gives us onsite production of mulberry. Our team at Prodigy did an incredible job of seamlessly transitioning production to this new factory. The personal sacrifices and commitments made by our key Prodigy Textiles staff to make this move possible are known to very few but will be felt by all of the Kraig Lab’s family of shareholders.”

To view the most recent news from Kraig Labs and/or to sign up for Company alerts, please go to: www.KraigLabs.com/news

About Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc.

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (www.KraigLabs.com), a reporting biotechnology company is the leading developer of genetically engineered spider silk based fiber technologies.

The Company has achieved a series of scientific breakthroughs in the area of spider silk technology with implications for the global textile industry.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

Statements in this press release about the Company’s future and expectations other than historical facts are “forward-looking statements.” These statements are made on the basis of management’s current views and assumptions. As a result, there can be no assurance that management’s expectations will necessarily come to pass. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as “believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “foresees,” “estimated,” “hopes,” “if,” “develops,” “researching,” “research,” “pilot,” “potential,” “could” or other words or phrases of similar import. Forward looking statements include descriptions of the Company’s business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions and goals. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security.

Ben Hansel, Hansel Capital, LLC
(720) 288-8495
ir@KraigLabs.com

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Aug. 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTCQB: KBLB) (“the Company” or “Kraig Labs”), the leading developer of spider silk-based fibers, announces today the expansion of its development team with the addition of a new senior scientist. Dr. Jimi Miller joined the Kraig Labs team in July and has hit the ground running, bringing new ideas and excitement to the research team.

In his first few weeks, Dr. Miller has made significant contributions in advancing the commercialization of the Company’s new lines of nearly pure spider silk. He has reinvigorated the Kraig Labs R&D team with new ideas and methods for the development and rapid commercialization of next-generation materials.

Dr. Miller joins the Kraig Labs team after receiving his Ph.D. in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University. While at Yale, Dr. Miller also completed a postdoctoral position developing and optimizing a gene-targeting system in citrus plants using CRISPR. Dr. Miller’s introduction to developing commercial products came while at The Andersons, where he worked to create innovative large-scale production systems. Dr. Miller’s expertise in optimizing gene-targeting and background plant-based systems has brought innovative designs for large-scale domestic silk production.

“In filling this position, we were looking for a candidate that blended a deep technical knowledge of genetics with a passion and commitment to see these discoveries commercialized. After interviewing numerous highly qualified candidates and having now seen Dr. Miller in action in the lab, I am confident we made the right choice. Dr. Miller’s contributions have already improved our efficiency in creating new transgenics and preparing our existing strains of nearly pure spider for transition to commercial-scale production,” said Company COO Jon Rice.

Dr. Miller played a critical role in the filing of the Company’s two most recent PCT patent applications, earning the title of co-inventor for those discoveries. These patents expand on the Company’s nearly pure spider silk genetic engineering systems allowing for larger, more complex, and more diverse protein production systems.

Dr. Miller has also already made considerable contributions to the screening tools and primers used at Kraig Labs to accelerate the selection and optimization of new transgenics. This process is critical for the quick transition of new transgenics from development into germline stable strains ready for large-scale production.

“I am very excited to be joining the team here at Kraig Labs and the opportunities and challenges ahead in creating the next generation of spider silk products. The unique and efficient protein production offered by silkworms mean that that spider silk is just the beginning of what is possible for our exciting technology,” said Dr. Miller.

To view the most recent news from Kraig Labs and/or to sign up for Company alerts, please go to www.KraigLabs.com/news

About Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc.

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (www.KraigLabs.com), a reporting biotechnology company is the leading developer of genetically engineered spider silk based fiber technologies.

The Company has achieved a series of scientific breakthroughs in the area of spider silk technology with implications for the global textile industry.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

Statements in this press release about the Company’s future and expectations other than historical facts are “forward-looking statements.” These statements are made on the basis of management’s current views and assumptions. As a result, there can be no assurance that management’s expectations will necessarily come to pass. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as “believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “foresees,” “estimated,” “hopes,” “if,” “develops,” “researching,” “research,” “pilot,” “potential,” “could” or other words or phrases of similar import. Forward looking statements include descriptions of the Company’s business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions and goals. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security.

Ben Hansel, Hansel Capital, LLC
(720) 288-8495
ir@KraigLabs.com

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Aug. 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTCQB: KBLB) (“the Company” or “Kraig Labs”), the leading developer of spider silk based fibers, announces today that the Company has further expanded its leading position in the development of recombinant spider silk with the filing of two new patent applications. These new innovative patents build upon underlying knock-in/knock-out gene-editing technologies that the Company first made public in 2020.

The technologies covered with these patents expand on the Company’s nearly pure spider silk genetic engineering systems allowing for larger, more complex, and more diverse protein production systems.

Leveraging in situ auto assembly of large and complex proteins, the first, of these two patents, allows for the creation of silks that incorporate multiple sets of mechanical and chemical properties that cannot be created by conventional gene editing means. Kraig Labs developed this new system to address the limits on size and complexity of protein synthesis available from the world’s leading recombinant gene manufacturers. The Company expects that this new method will produce silks with complexities and scope that have never been seen before, in nature or in the laboratory.

The second patent propels the Company’s developments in gene editing beyond the traditional heavy chain fibroin component of silk. This new research and development avenue opens the doors for the co-production of complementary proteins. This evolution in research delivers on the Company’s vision for its transgenic silkworms as host platforms for tailored cosmetic and pharmacological proteins. This new system leverages the cost-effective and eco-responsible protein system that all of the Company’s technologies are built on.

The Company filed both of these patent applications under the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) process as well as filing utility patents in the United States of America. The broad nature of the PCT application will allow the Company to protect its technologies across the globe.

“Our research team continues to impress, bring new and innovative ideas to transcend what others may see as a technological limitation,” said COO, Jon Rice. “The portfolio of IP that our team is building, together with the resulting silk technologies it has produced, leaves me very optimistic for the future of Kraig Labs, our spider silk technologies, and beyond.”

To view the most recent news from Kraig Labs and/or to sign up for Company alerts, please go to www.KraigLabs.com/news   

About Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc.

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (www.KraigLabs.com), a reporting biotechnology company is the leading developer of genetically engineered spider silk based fiber technologies.

The Company has achieved a series of scientific breakthroughs in the area of spider silk technology with implications for the global textile industry.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

Statements in this press release about the Company’s future and expectations other than historical facts are “forward-looking statements.” These statements are made on the basis of management’s current views and assumptions. As a result, there can be no assurance that management’s expectations will necessarily come to pass. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as “believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “foresees,” “estimated,” “hopes,” “if,” “develops,” “researching,” “research,” “pilot,” “potential,” “could” or other words or phrases of similar import. Forward looking statements include descriptions of the Company’s business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions and goals. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security.

Ben Hansel, Hansel Capital, LLC
(720) 288-8495
ir@KraigLabs.com

ANN ARBOR, Mich., July 27, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTCQB: KBLB) (“the Company” or “Kraig Labs”), the biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of spider silk, today provides updates concerning the Company’s spider silk production program and the impacts to its operations of the tightening COVID-19 restrictions in Vietnam and globally.

The Company is pleased to announce that Prodigy Textiles, Kraig Labs’ Vietnamese subsidiary, has now produced enough silk to create a number of different fabric blends. These fabrics were designed in partnership with PL Kings for use in products under the jointly owned Spydasilk^TM brand. The Company expected to have these fabrics produced in Vietnam by the end of the second quarter, but must now source mills outside of Vietnam. The increasing COVID-19 related restrictions in Vietnam and elsewhere are preventing the delivery of finished fabrics to PL Kings. The Company is now coordinating the export of its finished recombinant spider silk. This effort is being coordinated with PL Kings to identify alternative mills within the ASEAN region capable of producing these fabrics.

The Company’s technology was designed to be a direct drop-in for traditional silk production systems and operations at Prodigy have demonstrated that its specialized silkworms can be easily raised using traditional methods. At this time, the Company has not been required to close its Prodigy Textiles facility, but with lockdowns increasing in several cities, the Company is preparing for every potentiality. Travel restrictions and the required closure of many business segments of the economy, including transportation across Vietnam, have significantly slowed the Company’s production operations. The additional lab and testing equipment the Company scheduled for installation is now also on hold due to shutdowns at the Hanoi-based supplier.  

In anticipation of these delays and restrictions, Kraig Labs’ US R&D headquarters amplified its support of Prodigy’s production operations by significantly increasing its egg supplementation capacity to ensure a stable supply of eggs. A shipment of 100,000 Dragonsilk^TM eggs was sent from the Company’s US facility, in June, to test the efficiency of this contingency plan and boost production at Prodigy. The eggs successfully arrived in Ho Chi Minh City only to find delays caused by reduced staffing at Vietnamese customs. Final delivery to the Prodigy factory was delayed considerably by multiple COVID-19 checkpoints. This added delay starved the eggs of oxygen, killing a large portion of those eggs. If movement restrictions in Vietnam continue to increase, it may no longer be feasible to reliably import silkworm eggs in the near term.  

The US operations, including R&D and egg production, have greatly exceeded expectations over the last three quarters. The Company has developed four separate strains of its knock-in/knock-out nearly pure spider silk line of hybrids which we believe are almost ready for the transition to production. The R&D team in the US is now working to ensure the genetic inserts are in a stable homozygous configuration. These strains have been developed in two unique commercial silkworms lines and, when crossbred, create significantly larger cocoons that improve the finished yarn and spinning. This powerful technology has been the main focus of our R&D efforts and is nearly complete. The Company hopes to be able to transition these new and more powerful hybrids to Prodigy Textiles. However, before this shipment can happen, we must have a reliable means of delivering these new technologies to Vietnam and Prodigy’s factory.

These new technologies and transgenics are covered under multiple PCT patent applications the Company filed in 2021. The first of these patent applications covering its core Knock-in/Knock-out system was filed in February. In July, the Company filed two additional PCT patents expanding on that original design and merged multiple provisional patents initially filed in July 2020. While Monster Silk® and Dragon Silk^TM are the core of the Company’s current offerings, the next generation of yarns and fabrics produced by Prodigy Textiles will be built on the performance of these nearly pure spider silk transgenics.

The COVID-19 related delays in Vietnam are also impacting the Company’s uplisting application. Kraig Labs has addressed all of the stated requirements for listing on a national exchange. An additional hurdle, over and above the listing requirements, was then presented to the Company. A new requirement was created, forcing Kraig to demonstrate market demand for spider silk through commercial sales. The Company’s partnership with PL Kings and the establishment of the Spydasilk^TM Apparel brand was poised to verify demand and generate those sales in the third quarter. The shutdown of the mills in Vietnam has now caused a several-month delay in the delivery of those finished fabrics and the first finished garments.     

“We’ve been pressing hard on multiple facets of our spider silk fiber production program in order to achieve the uplisting and to bring value to our shareholders. We have also been working to create a set of contingency plans and workarounds for the constantly evolving COVID-19 restriction in Vietnam and around the world. We are very pleased with the performance of the first samples of silk produced by the factory and we are even more thrilled to have enough material to start weaving the first composite fabrics. This latest wave of COVID shutdowns is impacting our operations and our Prodigy team members more severely than anything we have previously experienced. With that said, between our teams at Prodigy and Kraig Labs, I am confident that we will weather this storm, as we have so many in the past,” said the Company’s COO, Jon Rice. “We are working now to get our finished silk out of Vietnam so that they can be converted into fabrics and delivered into the hands of our partners at PL Kings.”

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About Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc.

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (www.KraigLabs.com), a fully reporting biotechnology company, is a developer of genetically engineered spider silk based fiber technologies.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

Statements in this press release about the Company’s future and expectations other than historical facts are “forward-looking statements.” These statements are made on the basis of management’s current views and assumptions. As a result, there can be no assurance that management’s expectations will necessarily come to pass. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as “believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “foresees,” “estimated,” “hopes,” “if,” “develops,” “researching,” “research,” “pilot,” “potential,” “could” or other words or phrases of similar import. Forward looking statements include descriptions of the Company’s business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions and goals. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security.

Ben Hansel, Hansel Capital, LLC
(720) 288-8495
ir@KraigLabs.com