Sintx Technologies (SINT) said Thursday it received an international patent covering agricultural uses of its silicon nitride, especially in plant protection and antimicrobial treatment.

The company has established a unit called Sintx Agribiotech that will have a management team focused on developing and commercializing related agricultural and environmental technologies.

Sintx said the new subsidiary will operate independently from the company's medical device business.

The company's shares were down 5.1% in recent premarket activity.