Vaccines given with a painless skin patch rather than needles are a step closer after Australian innovators secured a deal with international vaccine manufacturer Merck. <\/p>\n
The Nanopatch, developed by University of Queensland Professor Mark Kendall and his bioengineering and nanotechnology team, uses 100 times less vaccine than a syringe and is smaller than a postage stamp. <\/p>\n
The technology is being commercialised by an investor-backed company, Vaxxas, formed in August 2011, but the partnership with Merck has injected extra research funds and potentially opens up a suite of vaccines to eventually be used with the patch. <\/p>\n
Merck, the international distributor of the Gardasil HPV vaccine pioneered by Australia's Professor Ian Frazer, will initially fund Vaxxas to evaluate the Nanopatch for use with one of its vaccines. <\/p>\n
'This is an essential step for Vaxxas because for the first time we have a partnership with one of the world's largest vaccine manufacturers,' Prof Kendall told AAP on Monday. <\/p>\n
He said the deal validated the development of the Nanopatch, which was selected by Merck from a field of about 40 other international technologies. <\/p>\n
Vaxxas raised about $15 million last year to commercialise the Nanopatch technology. <\/p>\n
This process will involve several rigorous testing phases to ensure the patch is effective and safe. <\/p>\n
The patch had already been tested in animal models and would move into human clinical trials within the next two years, Prof Kendall said. <\/p>\n
'If everything works well, quite possibly this could be on the market within the next five to seven years,' he said. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Original post: Vaccines given with a painless skin patch rather than needles are a step closer after Australian innovators secured a deal with international vaccine manufacturer Merck. Continue reading
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