Maputo, 13 March 2018 - Bayer has officially kicked-off a one-year trial of a new malaria fighting Indoor Residual Spray (IRS), called Fludora Fusion, in Mozambique’s Manhica District. The trial, which is being run in partnership with The Manhica Health Research Centre and Goodbye Malaria, is one of 17 trials currently taking place in other sub Saharan Africa countries.  

“Considering that Mozambique has a high and growing occurance of malaria, with 4.6 million reported cases in 2017 up from 3.8 million in 2016,” says Jose de Sousa, Head of Envronmental Science for Bayer in sub Saharan Africa, “we identified Mozambique as a key country in which to run a local trial for Fludora Fusion. 

Vector control, the method of limiting or eradicating malaria carrying mosquitos, is the mainstay of the global malaria prevention strategy and Bayer has been at the forefront of introducing new innovations in this regard. Fludora Fusion offers an advanced approach by remaining active for longer, while also enabling malaria programme managers to regulate insecticide resistance with increased coverage

De Sousa explains further, “This latest innovation in vector control is part of Bayer’s commitment to the growing challenge of insecticide resistance in the fight against malaria and eminates from Bayer’s increased investment its research and development over the past 10 years in order to ensure a new generation of IRS with a substantial increase in efficacy.”

The Mozambique Fludora Fusion’s trial will take place in 12 purpose-built experimental huts designed to mimic the conditions in which the product will be used. Other trials are  currently taking place in South Africa; Zimbabwe; Zambia; Tanzania, Kenya; Rwanda; Benin; Ghana, Madagascar and the Ivory Coast. Preliminary results from Zambia, Tanzania and South Africa, where the trials are further advanced, are already showing promising results.

“While the malaria incidence figures are daunting, the silver lining is that malaria is preventable, provided that we keep refining our ability to control the vectors that spread it—mosquitos. Trials like the one we are launching today, is a key step in bringing this solution to to the market with Fludora Fusion ready to take its place in the frontline of the fight against malaria” De Sousa concludes.

About Bayer

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the Life Science fields of health care and agriculture. Its products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. At the same time, the Group aims to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development and to its social and ethical responsibilities as a corporate citizen. In fiscal 2017, the Group employed around 99,800 people and had sales of EUR 35.0 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to EUR 2.4 billion, R&D expenses to EUR 4.5 billion. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.

www.bayer.co.za

Contact:

Tasniem Patel

Head of Communications for Southern Africa

Email: tasniem.patel@bayer.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conformthem to future events or developments.