Andrea Macdonald, founder of ideaXme, interviews Hadyn Parry, CEO of Oxitec.
He’d like to meet Bill Gates to tell him about the success of Oxitec in eliminating the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits dengue fever to humans and prove how other varieties of mosquitoes which spread diseases, such as Malaria, could be tackled in a similar way.
“Bill Gates has the single most articulated vision around mosquitoes, which is evident in his anti malarial campaigns. We could do a brilliant job of working with him. Our system could be synergistic with the programmes already in place. I think that we are the missing part of the jigsaw.” – Hadyn Parry.
“Insecticides are good at killing mosquitoes but they have to touch them. It is reactive. We want to prevent the huge explosion of mosquito numbers. It is a different thought process. We need to educate people, especially the policy makers.” – Hadyn Parry
“The central point is to deliver the benefit. You are driven by the solution.” – Hadyn Parry
Gates Says Altered Mosquito Is Next Weapon to Fight Malaria
Oxitec:
Using advanced genetics and molecular biology, Oxitec has developed an innovative solution to control the mosquito Aedes aegypti, one of mankind’s greatest adversaries.
The cost of mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, zika, chikunguya and yellow fever is high both physically and financially. Dengue was estimated to have cost the global economy over US$39 billion in 2011. In addition to the high cost of current control methods and the even higher cost of caring for patients, disease outbreaks can devastate tourism in countries that often rely on the overseas income which visitors can bring.
Oxitec is a pioneer in using genetic engineering to control insect pests that spread disease and damage crops, and was founded in 2002 as a spinout from Oxford University (UK). Oxitec is a subsidiary of Intrexon Corporation (NYSE: XON), which engineers biology to help solve some of the world’s biggest problems.
News: Oxitec and GBIT announce launch of Friendly™ Aedes Project in India.
Background:
Hadyn has an extensive background in the life sciences sector. During his fifteen-year career at Zeneca/Syngenta he held various positions, including General Manager of Zeneca Plant Sciences and European Director and Global Head of R&D for Advanta, one of the world’s largest seed companies. More recently, he was CEO of MNL Pharmaceuticals, a company that was focused on pioneering a novel approach in immunology. Hadyn is also Chairman of Help For Heroes, a charity founded in 2007 to support wounded British soldiers.
Oxitec is a pioneer in using genetic engineering to control insect pests that spread disease and damage crops, and was founded in 2002 as a spinout from Oxford University (UK). Oxitec is a subsidiary of Intrexon Corporation (NYSE: XON), which engineers biology to help solve some of the world’s biggest problems.
Using advanced genetics and molecular biology, Oxitec has developed a new and innovative solution to controlling the dangerous mosquito, Aedes aegypti.
The Oxitec solution harnesses the natural instincts of male mosquitoes to find females in the wild. Oxitec has used genetic engineering to create ‘self-limiting’ male insects which seek out and mate with females. After an Oxitec male mosquito has successfully mated with a wild female, any offspring that result will not survive to adulthood, so the mosquito population declines.
The Oxitec Control Programme is the system through which Oxitec mosquitoes are released and monitored over a predetermined and sustained period of time in an area with Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. By applying the Oxitec Control Programme to an area, the mosquito population in that area can be dramatically reduced or eliminated.
Unlike conventional insecticides or pesticides, which kill insects indiscriminately, the Oxitec approach is targeted at a single species. This means that, as well as being more effective, it is much better for the environment than conventional tools.
Covered in the ideaXme interview:
The Big Ideas:
A completely new and innovative way of tackling disease spread by mosquitoes.
“We can reduce the population by 90% which is 3 times better than trying to do so with chemicals. You don’t leave anything in the environment.” – Hadyn Parry
“No one even tries to reduce the actual population of mosquitoes. We are trying to take down the whole population not kill them in isolated in areas.” – Hadyn Parry
“A health authority is used to buying drugs but not used to buying mosquitos. We don’t have a central person in government to talk to. The reaction is always to create a vaccine. We don’t have 10 years to develop a vaccine. Look at Zika. We try to convince people to focus on the mosquitos because they are the source of not just existing health problems but also those of the future, not yet in existence.” – Hadyn Parry
“Everything is new and everything is a challenge.” – Hadyn Parry
“No one has ever done this before – no one has ever built a mosquito factory. We’ve started a whole new industry.” – Hadyn Parry
Going to market in Brazil and The Cayman Islands and trials in the USA in 2017.
How the idea came about.
The scientific founder: Professor Luke Alphey.
The Human Story:
He didn’t like school. “I didn’t like the straight jacket of the system.” – Hadyn Parry
Started in finance and found it extremely boring.
Career in the life sciences sector.
“I like change and driving a cause.” – Hadyn Parry
Politics
“We need to have a good long hard look at our politics. We’ve just had 2 citizen rebellions. So we need to recognize that the system has to change.” – Hadyn Parry
Advice to other organizations attempting to tackle big issues effecting our planet.
“You’ll be surprised by how few people will help you. You need to cherish the people who do.” – Hadyn Parry
Follow Oxitec @Oxitec
Follow @HadynParry
Credits: Andrea Macdonald interview video, text, and audio
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