HONOLULU and FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., July 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- SenesTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNES), a developer of proprietary technologies for managing animal pest populations through fertility control, today announced the results of a laboratory evaluation of ContraPest in a second species of rat; Rattus rattus, commonly known as the black rat or roof rat.  

The black rat is found primarily in trees and roof locations and rarely on the ground in areas where the brown rat dominates. Both are commonly controlled invasive pest species, with the black rat commonly found in forested tropical locations.  

The study was conducted on the island of Hawaii by the US Department of Agriculture, under the direction of Dr. Shane Siers, USDA/APHIS/WS National Wildlife Research Center Hawaii Field Station, Hilo, HI.  Wild-captured black rats were exposed to ContraPest for 58 days, which included the first breeding round. Treated animals produced no pups (0) for the first two breeding rounds (107 days). During the third breeding round, 128 days from the start of treatment and 70 days after the end of treatment, 6 pups were born to treated females, and 24 born to untreated control females.  

These results are consistent with a previous study by the USDA published by Dr. Gary Witmer in March 2017 conducted on wild-caught brown rats, Rattus norvegicus.The duration of infertility seen in this experiment represents a significant portion of a wild rat’s reproductive lifespan.

“ContraPest has now been shown to be effective in stopping the fertility of two most common rat species and therefore holds promise in addressing rodent control problems of islands as well as other global applications," said Dr. Loretta P. Mayer, Chair, CEO and co-founder of SenesTech. “The USDA report specifically notes ContraPest’s potential to meet rodent management objectives to help protect Hawai’i’s natural resources.”

Dr. Mayer added, "These data continue to provide evidence that we are launching a product that has the potential to address the significant challenges rodent overpopulation has presented over the centuries; food depletion, infrastructure damage, poison contamination, predation of native species and the spread of rodent-borne diseases. As we work here in the Hawaiian Islands we are mindful of the serious threat rat lungworm disease presents in our tropical global and US regions including Florida.”

About SenesTech 

SenesTech has developed an innovative technology for managing animal pest populations through fertility control as opposed to a lethal approach.

The Company's first fertility control product, ContraPest^®, is marketed for use initially in controlling rat infestations. ContraPest's novel technology and approach targets the reproductive capabilities of both sexes, inducing egg loss in female rodents and impairing sperm development in males. Using proprietary bait stations, ContraPest is dispensed in a highly palatable liquid formulation that promotes sustained consumption by rodent communities. ContraPest is designed, formulated and dispensed to be safe for handlers and non-target species such as wildlife, livestock and pets, in a biodegradable product. In contrast, the historical approach to managing rodent pest populations, rodenticides, carries a high risk of environmental contamination and the poisoning of non-target animals, pets and children.

We believe our non-lethal approach, targeting reproduction, is more humane, less harmful to the environment, and more effective in providing a sustainable solution to pest infestations than traditional lethal pest management methods. There is currently no other non-lethal fertility control product approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for the management of rodent populations. We believe ContraPest^® will establish a new paradigm in rodent control, resulting in improved performance in rodent control over rodenticides, without the negative environmental effects of rodenticides. For more information visit the SenesTech website at www.senestech.com.

Safe Harbor Statement 

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may," "future," "plan" or "planned," "will" or "should," "expected," "anticipates," "draft," "eventually" or "projected." You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and other risks identified in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made and are based on management's assumptions and estimates as of such date. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of the receipt of new information, the occurrence of future events or otherwise.

CONTACT:  

Investor: Robert Blum, Joe Dorame, Joe Diaz, Lytham Partners, LLC, 602-889-9700, senestech@lythampartners.com

Company: Tom Chesterman, Chief Financial Officer, SenesTech, Inc., 928-779-4143

SOURCE SenesTech, Inc.