Overview

• Researchers at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine demonstrated on August 7 that mosquitoes absorb nitisinone through their tarsi when landing on treated surfaces, resulting in rapid mortality
• Nitisinone retains full potency against pyrethroid- and organophosphate-resistant strains by inhibiting the HPPD enzyme required for tyrosine metabolism
• The compound also kills mosquitoes systemically through blood ingestion, causing fatal accumulation of unmetabolized protein in the digestive tract
• Laboratory trials confirmed broad-spectrum activity against key disease vectors including Anopheles, Aedes and Culex species
• With an established safety record in treating tyrosinemia type 1 and alkaptonuria, nitisinone is being evaluated for formulation into indoor sprays or bed nets to address insecticide resistance