It’s a single-dose vaccine that doesn’t require a cold temperature regime, like some of the other COVID vaccines already available and can be easily distributed and self-administered.

Scientists from the University of Queensland have successfully protected mice against the virus by infusing a US-developed vaccine candidate via a ‘patch.’ They believe a needle-free COVID-19 vaccination is achievable.

A special patch known as high-density microarray patch (HD-MAP) was developed by scientists from Queensland with the Australian biotech company Vaxxas. It has high-density microneedles coated with a drug.

“When the Hexapro vaccine is delivered via HD-MAP applicator – rather than a needle – it produces better and faster immune responses,” said Dr David Muller, from UQ’s School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences.

“It also neutralises multiple variants, including the UK and South Africa variants.

“And it’s much more user-friendly than a needle – you simply ‘click’ an applicator on the skin, and 5000 microscopic projections almost-imperceptibly deliver vaccine into the skin.”

Dr Muller stated that the UQ team, in collaboration with Vaxxas, planning to bring the technology to the rest of the world and that they are searching for funding to help them go to clinical trials as quickly as feasible.

“Hexapro, delivered by the high-density microarray patch, could dramatically assist global vaccine rollout effort, particularly for billions of vulnerable people in low- and middle-income countries.

“We’ve shown this vaccine, when dry-coated on a patch, is stable for at least 30 days at 25 degrees Celsius and one week at 40 degrees, so it doesn’t have the cold chain requirements of some of the current options.”

Vaxxas’ President and CEO, David L. Hoey, expressed his satisfaction at the findings.

“These results are extremely clear – vaccination by HD-MAP produces much stronger and more protective immune responses against COVID-19 in model systems than via needle or syringe,” he said.

“We thank and recognise our incredible research collaborators at UQ for these important findings.

“The prospect of having a single-dose vaccine, that could be easily distributed and self-administered, would greatly improve global pandemic vaccination capabilities.”

The study was published in ScienceAdvances.

Image Credit: from the study group

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