Overview

• Nitisinone, a drug traditionally used for rare genetic disorders, has been found to make human blood toxic to mosquitoes by blocking the HPPD enzyme, leading to their death.
• The drug shows significant advantages over ivermectin, including a longer half-life in human blood, effectiveness against insecticide-resistant mosquitoes, and environmental safety.
• Recent studies demonstrated nitisinone's ability to kill Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes of all ages, including those most likely to transmit malaria and those resistant to traditional insecticides.
• Researchers are now preparing semi-field trials to determine the optimal dosages and practical strategies for integrating nitisinone into mosquito control programs.
• The expanded use of nitisinone for vector control could also reduce its cost for patients with rare genetic diseases by increasing production.