Texas Biomed and Flyttr partner to advance next-generation solutions for the invasive New World screwworm
Texas Biomed and Flyttr partner to advance next-generation solutions for the invasive New World screwworm
New World screwworm, now back on U.S. soil after being eliminated nearly 60 years ago, is a destructive pest that threatens U.S. livestock, wildlife and rural economies.
Under the partnership, Flyttr will design and develop advanced biological suppression technologies at Texas Biomed’s state-of-the-art R&D facilities.
The collaboration will aim to expand the options available to the national response to this urgent biosecurity and economic threat facing Texas and the nation.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS — June 29, 2026 — Texas Biomedical Research Institute, one of the world’s leading independent biomedical research institutions, has entered into a partnership with Flyttr (formerly Oxitec), the leading biosecurity solutions platform for critical pest threats, to develop, evaluate and advance next-generation biological solutions that could strengthen future elimination efforts of New World screwworm, a destructive livestock pest that threatens animal health and agricultural economies.
Under the agreement, Flyttr will utilize advanced laboratory facilities at Texas Biomed over the next two years to develop advanced suppression technologies that build on proven, mating-based methods like the sterile insect technique to rapidly suppress and push back screwworm populations. Flyttr is deploying teams of scientists and technical experts to Texas Biomed and will bring its cutting-edge research and development capabilities to bear on this critical work.
The collaboration reflects a shared commitment by both organizations to confront urgent biosecurity threats with speed and scientific rigor. Flyttr will bring the strength of its global pest biosecurity platform to develop and scale new technologies that will give policymakers additional options for bolstering the national screwworm response; for Texas Biomed, this partnership advances a core mission to protect the health of Texas and the nation by mobilizing world-class science – in this case helping to defend the state’s livestock producers, agriculture and communities.
“As a scientific institution, we are uniquely positioned to rapidly mobilize resources and expertise when important research opportunities arise,” said Cory Hallam, Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Applied Science and Innovation at Texas Biomed. “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.”
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. Eradicated from the United States in 1966, the pest was confirmed in a calf in Zavala County, Texas, in 2026 – the first U.S. detection in nearly 60 years – and additional cases have since been confirmed across the state. To address a threat that the USDA estimates could cost the state's economy roughly $1.8 billion a year, federal and state agencies are actively working to prevent its spread.
“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,” said Grey Frandsen, Chief Executive Officer of Flyttr. “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.”
San Antonio is rapidly strengthening its position as a national hub for biotechnology and biomedical innovation, driven by a unique concentration of scientific expertise, research infrastructure and collaborative partnerships.
“I established the Economic Security Advisory Group (ESAG) because San Antonio is uniquely positioned to lead biotechnology efforts,” said San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones. “The partnership between Texas Biomed and Flyttr announced today reflects that. Our city is home to one of the nation's strongest concentrations of bioscience expertise, world-class research institutions and a collaborative ecosystem that understands the importance of a One Health approach, recognizing that the health of people, animals and our environment are deeply interconnected.”
“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,” added Mayor Ortiz Jones.
About Texas Biomedical Research Institute
Texas Biomed is a nonprofit research institute dedicated to protecting the global community from infectious diseases. Through basic research, preclinical testing and innovative partnerships, we accelerate diagnostics, therapies and vaccines for the world’s deadliest pathogens. Our San Antonio campus hosts high containment laboratories and the Southwest National Primate Research Center. Our scientists collaborate with industry and researchers globally and have helped deliver the first COVID-19 vaccine, the first Ebola treatment and first Hepatitis C therapy. For more information, please visit txbiomed.org or follow Texas Biomed on LinkedIn.
About Flyttr
Flyttr (formerly Oxitec) is the biosecurity platform for combating the world’s most critical biological pest threats.
Contact. info@flyttr.com