FDA allows Field Trial of Oxitec’s GM mosquitoes to Move Forward

Discussion will include how genetically-engineered mosquitoes reduce the population of Aedes aegypti mosquitos, and next steps in making the technology operational in the U.S.

The CEO of Oxitec will hold a media conference call on August 5, 2016 at 12:30PM EST to discuss the FDA’s approval for a field trial to use its genetically-engineered mosquitoes in the Florida Keys to evaluate its effectiveness in reducing the population of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that carry Zika, dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya.

In March, the FDA issued a preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), which concluded that the trial would not have a significant negative impact on human health or the environment.

Today the FDA announced that the agency has published a final environmental assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) after their extensive review of Oxitec’s dossier and thousands of public comments for a trial in the Florida Keys that agrees with the EA’s conclusion that the proposed field trial will not have significant impacts on the environment. The official announcement is here.

This decision comes at a critical time as locally-acquired cases of mosquito-borne Zika continue to rise in the U.S. with 15 confirmed cases of locally transmitted Zika virus in Florida already.  The threat of the virus spreading to other parts of the U.S. is real and a solution is needed now.

Oxitec’s Friendly Aedes™ is a genetically engineered male mosquito that cannot bite or transmit diseases, and its resulting offspring die before maturation. Releases reduce the population of the mosquito that carries Zika, dengue and chikingunya. Oxitec has already conducted successful field trials in Brazil, Panama and the Cayman Islands, each of which led to a greater than 90 percent reduction in the Aedes aegypti population.

Media will have a chance to ask questions of Hadyn Parry, CEO of Oxitec, who can discuss what the announcement means for the state of Florida and next steps on making the technology available where needed in affected areas in the United States.

Mosquito release video from Brazil and Grand Cayman are available upon request.

MEDIA CALL DETAILS

Friday, August 5, 2016

12:30 p.m. EST

 

Toll-Free Number: (888) 392-4560

Tolled Number: (317) 942-7008

Teleconference Code: 6873963#

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