An innovative and frankly scary new drug appears to show positive results in experiments designed to make human blood a deadly trap for mosquitoes. If the technology works, it could literally wipe out Malaria – but is it safe?
At a glance:
• Scientists have discovered that the drug nitisinone makes human blood deadly to mosquitoes that spread malaria
• Nitisinone is typically used to treat rare inherited diseases but shows remarkable effectiveness against mosquitoes
• The drug blocks a key enzyme in mosquitoes, preventing them from digesting blood and causing death
• Research shows nitisinone is effective against mosquitoes of all ages, including those resistant to traditional insecticides
• Unlike alternatives, nitisinone lasts longer in the bloodstream and is more environmentally friendly
A Game-Changing Discovery in Disease Control
Researchers have made a breakthrough discovery that could revolutionize the fight against malaria, a disease that continues to ravage many developing nations. The drug nitisinone, already FDA-approved for treating rare metabolic disorders, has shown remarkable ability to make human blood lethal to mosquitoes that spread malaria.
When mosquitoes feed on blood containing nitisinone, they lose their ability to fly, become paralyzed, and ultimately die. This happens because the drug blocks a critical enzyme called 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) that mosquitoes need to process blood meals.
The study found that nitisinone is effective against mosquitoes of all ages, including older ones more likely to transmit malaria. Even more promising, it works against mosquitoes that have developed resistance to traditional insecticides, providing a potential solution to the growing problem of insecticide resistance.
Malaria breakthrough as scientists find drug makes human blood deadly to mosquitoes https://t.co/jgRUT5hi49@SirGeoffPalmer @DrIanWeissman @SiddharthKS @juniorjuri
nitisinone has the potential to suppress mosquito population and control
malaria
Dengue
Yellow Fever
— Truthoverdishonesty (@Nigelj08223326) March 27, 2025
Superior to Current Alternatives
Nitisinone has shown distinct advantages over ivermectin, the anti-parasitic medication currently used for mosquito control. Research indicates that nitisinone remains effective in the human bloodstream for longer periods, potentially offering more sustained protection against mosquito-borne diseases.
“One way to stop the spread of diseases transmitted by insects is to make the blood of animals and humans toxic to these blood-feeding insects,” said Lee Haines, one of the researchers behind the discovery. This approach addresses the problem at its source by turning the mosquito’s food source into a deadly trap.
Haines further explained the potential of this discovery, stating: “Our findings suggest that using nitisinone could be a promising new complementary tool for controlling insect-borne diseases like malaria.” The researchers propose alternating the use of nitisinone and ivermectin, especially in areas where ivermectin resistance has developed.
Future Applications and Research
Scientists are now working to determine the optimal dosage of nitisinone for effective mosquito control in real-world settings. The drug has already proven effective in laboratory studies, with blood from individuals taking nitisinone for other conditions shown to be lethal to mosquitoes.
Álvaro Acosta Serrano, another researcher involved in the study, emphasized the importance of nitisinone’s performance: “We thought that if we wanted to go down this route, nitisinone had to perform better than ivermectin.” Their research confirmed this superior performance through pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling.
The increased use of nitisinone for malaria control could have an added benefit for patients with rare genetic diseases who depend on the drug. The expanded production could potentially lower costs for these patients while helping combat one of the world’s deadliest insect-borne diseases.
The study received funding from several UK research councils and institutions, highlighting the international effort to find sustainable solutions to malaria. As research continues, nitisinone may soon join the arsenal of tools used to break the cycle of malaria transmission around the world.