News Release

EPA Approves Safer Insect Repellent Based On Compound Developed At NC State

Media Contacts:
Keith Nichols, News Services, 919/515-3470
Lisa Currin, Office of Technology Transfer, 919/515-9335

April 13 , 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thanks to a compound identified at North Carolina State University and licensed by HOMS, LLC, a safer, natural alternative for surviving mosquito season is headed to store shelves just in time for warm weather.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that one-third of Americans use DEET – the active ingredient in popular insect repellents. While EPA has deemed DEET safe for adults, recent reassessments have resulted in new child safety labeling requirements on all products containing the chemical. 

Now, the wait for a DEET-free, child-safe insect repellent is over. EPA has officially approved BioUD™ as a safe active ingredient in insect repellent for direct skin application with no child safety restrictions. HOMS, LLC, a North Carolina-based biotech company, will immediately begin distribution of the BioUD ™ formula in a product called Bite Blocker®.

Research shows BioUD™ outperforms DEET and the eucalyptus compound found in Off Botanicals in testing against mosquitoes at six hours post application. In fact, BioUD™ demonstrates 100 percent repellency against mosquitoes up to three hours after application and 99 percent repellent up to 4.5 hours in forest and marsh conditions.

Allen Jones, CEO of HOMS, and Dr. Michael Roe, William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor of Entomology at NC State, have been waiting for this day for some time. Four years ago, Roe saw potential to effectively repel a wide variety of insects using a naturally occurring compound found in wild tomato plants. His research suggested that a “green technology” could be developed with efficacy levels that would challenge DEET. HOMS licensed the compound from NC State for formulation with their soy emulsion technology for commercial applications and began the EPA approval process.

EPA’s extensive review of health and safety information culminated this month, with the official registration of BioUD™ as a pest-repellent formulation for direct skin application carrying no child restrictions.

BioUD™ has also proven effective against ticks. It has been tested against American Dog Ticks, carriers of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Deer Ticks, carriers of Lyme disease.

Bite Blocker® is the company’s premier repellent product containing the BioUD™ ingredient. Pipeline products include an insect repellent formulated for textiles such as clothing, tents and camping gear, a lignocellulosic application for control of wood-infestation, and an organic certification for the treatment of food prep surfaces in restaurants and other pest control services.