AMVAC Chemical Corporation and Harvard University reach research collaboration on promising techniques for mosquito control

AMVAC Chemical Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Vanguard Corporation (NYSE:AVD), has entered into a Research Collaboration Agreement with Harvard University to develop and potentially commercialize new, Harvard-owned technology aimed at control of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, a well-known viral disease vector. Aedes is the mosquito responsible for the spread of Zika, Dengue, Chikungungunya, and Yellow Fever viruses in many countries around the world.

AMVAC Chemical is a leader in the U.S. vector control sector, supplying the most effective aerial-applied mosquito adulticide used in professional public health mosquito control. Municipal officials, regional mosquito control districts and contractors for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) rely on AMVAC’s products to mitigate the threat of mosquitoes and the diseases they transmit. With the recent focus on the spread of the Zika virus in the United States, AMVAC has intensified its search for additional safe and effective technologies which could help combat vectors of this potential viral epidemic.

Under the collaboration agreement, AMVAC will support a research project led by Dr. Flaminia Catteruccia, Associate Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The technology under study is the subject of a patent application filed by Harvard; the collaboration agreement grants AMVAC certain license options for commercial development of spray- or fog-based mosquito control products.

Dr. Peter Porpiglia, Vice President of AMVAC’s Product Development Department commented: “We are excited that this collaboration with Harvard researchers could identify new directions and methods for addressing this significant public health danger. Controlling mosquito-borne diseases is a difficult challenge and this research agreement is one of several insect control initiatives that continue to define AMVAC’s commitment to innovation and new technology development.  We look forward to working with the Harvard team to understand the potential of their research findings and identify how that knowledge can help devise meaningful solutions to reduce this human health threat.”