Key Takeaways
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute has partnered with Flyttr (formerly Oxitec) to develop, evaluate, and advance next-generation biological tools against New World screwworm, a parasitic livestock pest.
- Under the two-year agreement, Flyttr will use Texas Biomed's laboratory facilities to develop advanced suppression technologies building on proven mating-based methods such as the sterile insect technique.
- New World screwworm, eradicated from the United States in 1966, was confirmed in a Texas calf in 2026 — the first U.S. detection in nearly 60 years — with additional cases reported since.
- The USDA estimates the pest could cost the Texas economy roughly $1.8 billion annually if it continues to spread.
- San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones cited the partnership as evidence of the city's growing role as a national biotechnology hub, tying it to her Economic Security Advisory Group initiative.
Texas Biomed and Flyttr Partner to Combat New World Screwworm
Texas Biomedical Research Institute, one of the world's leading independent biomedical research institutions, has entered a partnership with Flyttr — formerly known as Oxitec — a biosecurity solutions platform focused on critical pest threats. The collaboration is aimed at developing, evaluating, and advancing next-generation biological solutions to strengthen future elimination efforts against New World screwworm, a destructive parasitic pest that threatens livestock health and agricultural economies.
Under the agreement, Flyttr will use advanced laboratory facilities at Texas Biomed over the next two years to develop suppression technologies that build on proven, mating-based control methods, including the sterile insect technique, to rapidly suppress and reverse screwworm population growth.
Why New World Screwworm Has Become an Urgent Biosecurity Threat
New World screwworm is a parasitic fly species that lays eggs in the living tissue of fresh wounds in warm-blooded animals, causing serious harm to livestock, wildlife, and, in rare cases, humans. The pest was eradicated from the United States in 1966, but was confirmed in a calf in Zavala County, Texas, in 2026 — the first U.S. detection in nearly 60 years. Additional cases have since been confirmed across the state, prompting an active response from federal and state agencies seeking to prevent further spread. The USDA estimates the pest could cost the Texas economy approximately $1.8 billion annually if left unchecked.
What Texas Biomed and Flyttr Leadership Say About the Partnership
“As a scientific institution, we are uniquely positioned to rapidly mobilize resources and expertise when important research opportunities arise. New World screwworm represents a significant economic threat as well as a public health and biosecurity challenge. We are very pleased to support Flyttr as it develops innovative approaches that could help protect producers and communities in Texas and beyond,” said Cory Hallam, Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Applied Science and Innovation at Texas Biomed.
“The New World screwworm is a major biosecurity threat to American lives and livelihoods, so we're deploying our full platform capabilities, expertise, and resources into this important fight. Our strong partnership with Texas Biomed will accelerate this important work by forming a cutting-edge R&D outpost on the front lines of the screwworm battle where, together with a range of collaborators and partners, we will work to expand and scale the arsenal of tools to eliminate this threat,” said Grey Frandsen, Chief Executive Officer of Flyttr.
San Antonio's Growing Role as a Biotechnology Hub
The partnership also lands against the backdrop of San Antonio's expanding position as a national center for biotechnology and biomedical innovation, supported by a concentration of scientific expertise, research infrastructure, and collaborative ties between institutions.
“I established the Economic Security Advisory Group (ESAG) because San Antonio is uniquely positioned to lead biotechnology efforts. The partnership between Texas Biomed and Flyttr announced today reflects that. By bringing together scientific expertise and cutting-edge biotechnology, this partnership positions our community at the forefront of developing solutions to combat the New World screwworm and other growing threats that impact agriculture, public health, and global well-being. My congrats to Dr. Larry Schlesinger, President and CEO at Texas Biomed and an ESAG founding member, and the entire Texas Biomed team,” said San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones.
The two-year R&D collaboration positions Texas Biomed and Flyttr at the center of an escalating effort to contain a pest with significant implications for U.S. livestock health, food security, and regional economies.
