Drug Routs Gout and Kills Roaches
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WASHINGTON — Agriculture Department researchers have found that a gout medicine called allopurinol wipes out cockroaches.
Agricultural Research Service entomologists say the medication prevents the manufacture of uric acid in humans and roaches.
In humans, the acid contributes to the painful joint condition. Roaches need it in order to produce offspring, however.
ARS and the University of Florida share a patent on the new use for allopurinol. Several companies have expressed interest in using the drug to kill roaches.
The drug has been used safely by people for over 30 years, so a company interested in marketing it as a cockroach control can rely on toxicological studies that have already been conducted.
But additional studies on environmental safety may be needed before the Environmental Protection Agency will approve the new use of allopurinol.
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