Vaxess Technologies has demonstrated that its needle-free microarray patch can deliver semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, with bioavailability comparable to traditional subcutaneous injection, according to preclinical data presented at the 2025 American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions in Chicago.
The biotech company evaluated semaglutide delivery using Gottingen minipigs, a widely-used preclinical model for intradermal drug delivery. Two patch designs were tested, each delivering a clinically-relevant 2 nmol/kg dose. Both designs demonstrated bioavailability comparable to subcutaneous injection and achieved modestly higher Cmax, with similar half-life profiles.
"In a clinically relevant model, using a clinically relevant dose, bioavailability is comparable for delivery of semaglutide through Vaxess's microarray patches and subcutaneous injection," said Lynda Tussey, PhD, chief development officer at Vaxess. "Vaxess's microarray patch is a promising alternative mode of delivery with the potential to address treatment hesitancy and adherence."
Platform Technology and Clinical Advantages
Vaxess's platform combines a proprietary microarray patch and applicator capable of delivering a wide range of therapies. The dissolvable microarray tips utilize advanced biomaterials that enable precise dose delivery control and can be modified to deliver different payloads. Notably, the patch does not require refrigeration, enabling delivery to low-resource settings and eliminating cold chain storage requirements.
"From GLP-1 to insulin, doctors prescribe numerous drugs that require people to self-inject, which can cause physical and psychological discomfort," said Rachel Sha, CEO of Vaxess. "Vaxess's microarray patch is the future of drug delivery. In the coming years, instead of having to perform an uncomfortable self-injection for a range of conditions, people will be able to simply apply a band-aid-like patch for a few minutes."
Funding and Strategic Partnerships
In April 2025, Vaxess announced it received an additional $9 million in funding from investors including RA Capital Management and Engine Ventures. The company plans to use this funding to continue advancing its GLP-1 work and expand manufacturing capabilities to support the lead program and new partnerships for additional therapeutics.
The company has also established a strategic partnership with a leading biopharma company to collaborate on delivering diabetes and obesity therapeutics. Under this agreement, Vaxess will demonstrate the pharmacokinetic properties of administering the partner's drug via the microarray patch and evaluate how these properties compare to subcutaneous injection in a swine model.
Market Impact and Future Outlook
"In recent years GLP-1 therapies have shown they are extremely effective for metabolic disease, and the next step forward for the GLP-1 industry will be finding meaningful ways of improving the patient experience," Sha explained. "Moving to patch-based GLP-1 delivery has the potential to both increase GLP-1 access and improve adherence to treatment plans."
Over the past year, Vaxess has demonstrated the ability to effectively deliver clinical doses of semaglutide using their platform, with evaluations in both minipigs and rodents showing comparable bioavailability to subcutaneous injection.
Vaxess has raised more than $100 million in grant and venture capital funding from groups including RA Capital Management, Engine Ventures, GHIC, Mission BioCapital, BARDA, DARPA, NIH, NSF, and the Gates Foundation. The research presented at ADA was supported in part by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).
