{"id":44161,"date":"2016-01-19T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-01-19T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hispanicprwire.com\/expansion-of-oxitecs-vector-control-solution-in-brazil-attacking-source-of-zika-virus-and-dengue-fever-after-positive-program-results\/"},"modified":"2016-01-19T07:00:00","modified_gmt":"2016-01-19T11:00:00","slug":"expansion-of-oxitecs-vector-control-solution-in-brazil-attacking-source-of-zika-virus-and-dengue-fever-after-positive-program-results","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hispanicprwire.com\/en\/expansion-of-oxitecs-vector-control-solution-in-brazil-attacking-source-of-zika-virus-and-dengue-fever-after-positive-program-results\/","title":{"rendered":"Expansion of Oxitec&#8217;s Vector Control Solution in Brazil Attacking Source of Zika Virus and Dengue Fever after Positive Program Results"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><![CDATA[\n\/* Style Definitions *\/\nspan.prnews_span\n{\nfont-size:8pt;\nfont-family:\"Arial\";\ncolor:black;\n}\na.prnews_a\n{\ncolor:blue;\n}\nli.prnews_li\n{\nfont-size:8pt;\nfont-family:\"Arial\";\ncolor:black;\n}\np.prnews_p\n{\nfont-size:0.62em;\nfont-family:\"Arial\";\ncolor:black;\nmargin:0in;\n}\n]]><\/style>\n<div class=\"xn-content\">\n<p\/>\n<p\/>\n<p><span class=\"xn-location\">OXFORD, England<\/span> and <span class=\"xn-location\">GERMANTOWN, Maryland<\/span>, <span class=\"xn-chron\">Jan. 19, 2016<\/span> \/PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE\/ &#8212; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.dna.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Intrexon Corporation<\/a> (NYSE: XON), a leader in synthetic biology, today announced its subsidiary Oxitec and Piracicaba City Hall have expanded the &#8216;Friendly <i>Aedes aegypti<\/i> Project&#8217; in Piracicaba, <span class=\"xn-location\">Brazil<\/span> following strong results for controlling the <i>Ae. aegypti<\/i> mosquito population, the primary vector for dengue, chikungunya and Zika virus outbreaks around the world. In preparation of this growing program and to meet increasing demand for its proprietary vector control solution, Oxitec is initiating a new mosquito production facility in Piracicaba that will have capacity to protect over 300,000 people. <\/p>\n<p>Logo &#8211; <a href=\"http:\/\/photos.prnewswire.com\/prnh\/20130919\/NY83283LOGO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http:\/\/photos.prnewswire.com\/prnh\/20130919\/NY83283LOGO<\/a> <br \/>Logo &#8211; <a href=\"http:\/\/photos.prnewswire.com\/prnh\/20160118\/323303LOGO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http:\/\/photos.prnewswire.com\/prnh\/20160118\/323303LOGO<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We are delighted Piracicaba is encouraged by our strong results and expanding the program. Our new facility will support the roll out of our groundbreaking vector-control across the heart of the city and beyond,&#8221; said Oxitec CEO <span class=\"xn-person\">Hadyn Parry<\/span>. &#8220;As the principal source for the fastest growing vector-borne infection in the world in Dengue Fever, as well as the increasingly challenging Zika virus, controlling the <i>Aedes aegypti<\/i> population provides the best defense against these serious diseases for which there are no cures.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Following approval by <span class=\"xn-location\">Brazil&#8217;s<\/span> National Biosafety Committee (CTNBio) for releases throughout the country, Piracicaba&#8217;s CECAP\/<span class=\"xn-location\">Eldorado<\/span> district became the world&#8217;s first municipality to partner directly with Oxitec and in <span class=\"xn-chron\">April 2015<\/span> started releasing its self-limiting mosquitoes whose offspring do not survive. By the end of the calendar year, results had already indicated a reduction in wild mosquito larvae by 82%. Oxitec&#8217;s efficacy trials across <span class=\"xn-location\">Brazil<\/span>, <span class=\"xn-location\">Panama<\/span> and the <span class=\"xn-location\">Cayman Islands<\/span> all resulted in a greater than 90% suppression of the wild <i>Ae. aegypti<\/i> mosquito population \u2013 an unprecedented level of control.<\/p>\n<p>Based on the positive results achieved to date, the &#8216;Friendly <i>Aedes aegypti<\/i> Project&#8217; in CECAP\/<span class=\"xn-location\">Eldorado<\/span> district covering 5,000 people has been extended for another year. Additionally Oxitec and Piracicaba have signed a letter of intent to expand the project to an area of 35,000-60,000 residents. This geographic region includes the city&#8217;s center and was chosen due to the large flow of people commuting between it and surrounding neighborhoods which may contribute to the spread of infestations and infections. <\/p>\n<p>According to Mayor <span class=\"xn-person\">Gabriel Ferrato<\/span>, &#8220;The city of Piracicaba has always sought innovative solutions to serious problems. In the case of <i>Aedes aegypti<\/i>, we looked for the tool that seemed most appropriate to help in the tough battle against this mosquito that transmits dengue, Zika and chikungunya. Based on the results presented today, we decided to extend the project in CECAP\/<span class=\"xn-location\">Eldorado<\/span> district for another year and also signed a record of intent to expand the project to the central area of Piracicaba. This will bring to the city a new Oxitec factory to meet demand for years to come and help protect the public&#8217;s health with this clean and innovative technology.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Like many invasive insect species, <i>Ae. aegypti&#8217;s <\/i>territory is expanding as are the diseases it spreads, including dengue, chikungunya and Zika virus, which collectively impact over 100 countries and approximately 400 million people globally each year. Today <span class=\"xn-location\">Brazil<\/span> has the highest reported incidence of dengue in the Western Hemisphere, and with both chikungunya and Zika virus having entered the country in 2014 and 2015 respectively, the <i>Ae. aegypti <\/i>mosquito has become an increasing health risk. As a result, <span class=\"xn-location\">Brazil&#8217;s<\/span> Ministry of Health spent over <span class=\"xn-money\">1.2 billion reals<\/span> last year and allocated an additional <span class=\"xn-money\">500 million reals<\/span> for states and municipalities in <span class=\"xn-chron\">January 2016<\/span> to combat the mosquito.<\/p>\n<p>As per the recent New England Journal of Medicine publication titled <i>&#8220;Zika Virus in the Americas \u2014 Yet Another Arbovirus Threat&#8221;, <\/i><span class=\"xn-location\">Brazil<\/span> is not alone. Authors <span class=\"xn-person\">Anthony S. Fauci<\/span>, M.D., and <span class=\"xn-person\">David M. Morens<\/span>, M.D., from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases noted, &#8220;The explosive pandemic of Zika virus infection occurring throughout <span class=\"xn-location\">South America<\/span>, <span class=\"xn-location\">Central America<\/span>, and the <span class=\"xn-location\">Caribbean<\/span> and potentially threatening <span class=\"xn-location\">the United States<\/span> is the most recent of four unexpected arrivals of important arthropod-borne viral diseases in the Western Hemisphere over the past 20 years.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"xn-person\">Samuel Broder<\/span>, M.D., SVP and Head of Intrexon&#8217;s Health Sector commented, &#8220;As a vector that transmits a number of serious diseases, the <i>Aedes aegypti<\/i> mosquito poses a major threat to public health and the economic welfare of nations. <span class=\"xn-location\">Brazil<\/span> has been hard hit by dengue and the situation there has been aggravated by the recent introduction of Zika virus infections leading to a startling increase in the number of children being born with microcephaly.&#8221; Dr. Broder continued, &#8220;Through the responsible engineering of biology, we demonstrate a new paradigm of species-specific vector control resulting in dramatic reductions of dangerous mosquitoes, without persistence or harm to the ecosystem, representing a major scientific, environmental and clinical advance.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><b>Diseases spread by the <i>Aedes aegypti<\/i> mosquito:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li><b>Dengue Fever <\/b>infects up to 400 million people every year with an estimated 40% of the world&#8217;s population perpetually at risk. <\/li>\n<li><b>Zika Virus<\/b> is rapidly spreading into new countries. In 2015 it emerged in <span class=\"xn-location\">Brazil<\/span> where it has been linked to a sudden increase in birth defects (microcephaly). The number of children born with microcephaly in <span class=\"xn-location\">Brazil<\/span> has now risen to more than 3500. <\/li>\n<li><b>Chikungunya <\/b>swept into <span class=\"xn-location\">Central America<\/span> and the <span class=\"xn-location\">Caribbean<\/span> in 2013 with an epidemic spiking to over a million cases within only a year. <\/li>\n<li><b>Yellow Fever <\/b>remains a major health threat. There are an estimated 200,000 cases of yellow fever, causing 30,000 deaths, worldwide each year, with 90% occurring in <span class=\"xn-location\">Africa<\/span>. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>About Oxitec <br \/><\/b><a href=\"http:\/\/www.oxitec.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Oxitec<\/a> is the only GM insect company in the world and a pioneer in using genetic engineering to control insect pests that spread disease and damage crops. Oxitec was founded in 2002 as a spinout from <span class=\"xn-org\">Oxford University<\/span> (UK), and is now a subsidiary of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.dna.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Intrexon Corporation<\/a> (NYSE: XON), which engineers biology to help solve some of the world&#8217;s biggest problems. Oxitec&#8217;s self-limiting insect control targets only the one species of pest in a way that is non-toxic and pesticide-free, providing vector control that is both effective and environmentally friendly. Follow us on Twitter at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.twitter.com\/oxitec\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">@Oxitec<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><b>About Intrexon Corporation<br \/><\/b>Intrexon Corporation (NYSE: XON) is Powering the Bioindustrial Revolution with Better DNA<sup>\u2122<\/sup> to create biologically-based products that improve the quality of life and the health of the planet. The Company&#8217;s integrated technology suite provides its partners across diverse markets with industrial-scale design and development of complex biological systems delivering unprecedented control, quality, function, and performance of living cells. We call our synthetic biology approach Better DNA<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>, and we invite you to discover more at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.dna.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">www.dna.com<\/a> or follow us on Twitter at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.twitter.com\/intrexon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">@Intrexon<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><b>Trademarks<br \/><\/b>Intrexon, Powering the Bioindustrial Revolution with Better DNA, and Better DNA are trademarks of Intrexon and\/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.<\/p>\n<p><b>Safe Harbor Statement<br \/><\/b>Some of the statements made in this press release are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon our current expectations and projections about future events and generally relate to our plans, objectives and expectations for the development of our business. Although management believes that the plans and objectives reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and actual future results may be materially different from the plans, objectives and expectations expressed in this press release.<\/p>\n<p><b>For more information contact:<br \/><\/b><b>Corporate Contact:<br \/><\/b><span class=\"xn-person\">Marie Rossi<\/span>, Ph.D. <br \/>Senior Manager, Technical Communications<br \/>Tel: +1 (301) 556-9850<br \/><a href=\"mailto:publicrelations@intrexon.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">publicrelations@intrexon.com<\/a> <\/p>\n<p><b>Investor Contact:<br \/><\/b><span class=\"xn-person\">Christopher Basta<\/span><br \/>Vice President, Investor Relations<br \/>Tel: +1 (561) 410-7052<br \/><a href=\"mailto:investors@intrexon.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">investors@intrexon.com<\/a> <\/p>\n<p><b>Oxitec Contact:<br \/><\/b><span class=\"xn-person\">Chris Creese<\/span>, Ph.D.<br \/>Communications Manager<br \/>Tel: +44 (0) 7972 103372<br \/><a href=\"mailto:info@oxitec.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">info@oxitec.com<\/a> <\/p>\n<p><b>Media Contact:<br \/><\/b><span class=\"xn-person\">Elana Ferrari<\/span><br \/>Edelman US<br \/>Tel: +1 (312) 233-1336<br \/>Email: <a href=\"mailto:Elana.Ferrari@edelman.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Elana.Ferrari@edelman.com<\/a> <\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"xn-content\">\n<p \/>\n<p \/>\n<p><span class=\"xn-location\">OXFORD, England<\/span> and <span class=\"xn-location\">GERMANTOWN, Maryland<\/span>, <span class=\"xn-chron\">Jan. 19, 2016<\/span> \/PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE\/ &#8212; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.dna.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Intrexon Corporation<\/a> (NYSE: XON), a leader in synthetic biology, today announced its subsidiary Oxitec and Piracicaba City Hall have expanded the &#8216;Friendly <i>Aedes aegypti<\/i> Project&#8217; in Piracicaba, <span class=\"xn-location\">Brazil<\/span> following strong results for controlling the <i>Ae. aegypti<\/i>&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":44162,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44161","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-salud"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hispanicprwire.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44161","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hispanicprwire.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hispanicprwire.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hispanicprwire.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hispanicprwire.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44161"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hispanicprwire.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44161\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hispanicprwire.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44162"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hispanicprwire.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44161"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hispanicprwire.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44161"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hispanicprwire.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44161"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}