Vaxxas Pty Ltd, a biotechnology company revolutionizing vaccine delivery, has been awarded a $7.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to advance its high-density microarray patch (HD-MAP) vaccine technology. This new funding builds upon previous support from the NIH and follows the publication of positive Phase 1/2 clinical trial data in The Lancet, highlighting the potential of HD-MAP for improved vaccine administration and efficacy.
The HD-MAP technology is a needle-free vaccine delivery system designed to improve immune responses and simplify vaccine administration. The patch contains thousands of microprojections that painlessly deliver the vaccine to the abundant immune cells in the skin. This targeted delivery method has shown promise in preclinical and clinical studies, potentially leading to enhanced immune responses compared to traditional needle-and-syringe injections.
The NIH grant will support advanced development activities, including manufacturing scale-up and further optimization of the HD-MAP platform. These efforts are crucial for translating the promising clinical trial results into a commercially viable product that can address global immunization challenges. The company aims to leverage the funding to accelerate the development of HD-MAP-based vaccines for a range of infectious diseases.
"This grant from the NIH is a significant validation of our HD-MAP technology and its potential to transform vaccine delivery," said a Vaxxas spokesperson. "We are excited to continue our work with the NIH to advance this innovative technology and bring it to the people who need it most."
The Phase 1/2 clinical trial, the results of which were published in The Lancet, demonstrated that HD-MAP delivery of a model vaccine was safe and well-tolerated. Furthermore, the study showed that HD-MAP delivery elicited robust immune responses, comparable to or better than those achieved with traditional intramuscular injection. These findings suggest that HD-MAP could offer a more effective and convenient way to deliver vaccines, particularly in resource-limited settings where cold chain storage and trained healthcare professionals may be scarce.
Vaxxas is actively pursuing partnerships with pharmaceutical companies and global health organizations to further develop and commercialize its HD-MAP technology. The company believes that HD-MAP has the potential to revolutionize vaccine delivery, making it easier, more effective, and more accessible to people around the world.
