In a significant stride towards malaria control, researchers at the University of Notre Dame have identified nitisinone, a drug typically used for rare inherited diseases, as a potential tool to suppress mosquito populations. The study, published in Science Translational Medicine on March 26, 2025, reveals that when patients ingest nitisinone, their blood becomes lethal to mosquitoes.
Lee R. Haines, associate research professor of biological sciences at the University of Notre Dame, stated, "Our findings suggest that using nitisinone could be a promising new complementary tool for controlling insect-borne diseases like malaria." Nitisinone functions by blocking the HPPD enzyme in both humans and mosquitoes, preventing the latter from properly digesting blood and causing their rapid demise.
The research indicates that nitisinone has a longer half-life in human blood compared to ivermectin, the current gold standard, and can kill insecticide-resistant mosquitoes. Álvaro Acosta Serrano, professor of biological sciences at Notre Dame, emphasized the drug's potential, stating, "Nitisinone is a versatile compound that can also be used as an insecticide... making it an environmentally friendly option." Future research will focus on semi-field trials to determine optimal dosages. Moreover, increased nitisinone usage could lower the drug's price for patients with rare genetic diseases.