PIONEERING research to combat viruses spread by mosquitos by breeding the insects in Oxfordshire will be led by a biotech company in Didcot thanks to a major £7.3m investment.

American firm Intrexon announced yesterday it would create 75 jobs and build a new factory in Milton Park that will be the largest mosquito egg-producing facility in the world.

The company landed the deal as representatives joined the Prime Minister at a 'business roundtable' in New York yesterday.

Theresa May is in the United States aiming to strengthen trade ties as Britain continues its journey towards leaving the European Union.

Intrexon, which has its UK headquarters at subsidiary business Oxitec in Milton Park, will inject £7.3 million – on top of £141million already invested – to open the new factory dedicated to defeating the dangerous Aedes aegypti mosquito, a primary vector of Zika, dengue, yellow fever and other diseases.

The new facility will breed non-biting male mosquitos designed to reduce the populations of dangerous mosquitoes.

The eggs will be shipped across the world where they will be reared and released, gradually taking over from their more dangerous, biting cousins.

It is hoped the investment will reinforce Oxfordshire’s position at the centre of the global effort to combat insects that transmit vector-borne diseases.

Mrs May, who is in New York to attend the UN general assembly said: "Oxfordshire is at the forefront of world-leading science, research and innovation and this investment demonstrates the confidence major global firms have that the UK has the right workforce and expertise to deliver on pioneering new projects.

"I will be using my trip to Canada and the United States to build on our relationships with these countries and speaking to major investors about the opportunities that lie ahead."

Intrexon is one of about a dozen US investors who attended the event in New York on Tuesday.

The company's chief executive, Randal J. Kirk, said: "Intrexon applauds the UK Government in its continuing efforts to build a strong, innovation-focused economy that enables companies like ours to make major scientific and technological advancements that can have significant positive impact around the world.

"Our company is committed to our exceptional staff in the UK and to expanding the ground-breaking work they do in an effort to save lives and improve livelihoods globally."

The UK’s Department for International Trade has been working with major firms interested in UK investment opportunities to secure deals.