Without a needle: Bill Gates promotes a vaccine in the form of a patch that is applied to the skin

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation granted $23.6 million to the American life sciences company Micron Biomedical to finance the first mass production of a needle-free vaccination technology.

The technology works through administration of the vaccine through dissolvable microneedles attached to the skin on a patch-like device.

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Global health experts have long championed the potential of similar technology to boost the delivery of life-saving vaccines.

Is easier to transport and administer than traditional injections, especially in low-income countries, where reaching all children who need vaccines remains a challenge. However, increasing production has been an obstacle.

Micron Biomedical received funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop vaccines that are applied directly to the skin and do not require the use of needles or specialized personnel. (Hand-out – Micron Biomedical, Inc./)

A trial carried out in Gambia this year showed that Micron’s device administers measles and rubella vaccine -produced by the Serum Institute of India- to adults, babies and children with the Same safety and effectiveness as traditional syringesand produces a similar immune response.

The Micron vaccine works like a button that is applied to the skin, and does not require an expert for its application nor does it require punctures. (Hand-out – Micron Biomedical, Inc./)

The technology “could help overcome some of the biggest obstacles to eradicating measles and rubella worldwide”said James Goodson, senior scientist in the immunization division of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has also partnered with Micron.

It does not require a cold chain for distribution or a trained professional to administer the vaccine, and could also help those who are afraid of injections, the company said in a statement Thursday.

The funding will support the development of a plant that helps manufacture about 10 million devices a year, for larger clinical trials and then wider use, subject to approvals from regulatory authorities.

Source: Elcomercio