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Microneedle patch could increase measles vaccinations
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A new microneedle patch could be a safer and more efficient method of vaccinating patients against measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases, according to the CDC.
“Each day, 400 children are killed by measles complications worldwide,” James L. Goodson, PhD, epidemiologist from the CDC’s Global Immunization Division, said in a press release. “With no needles, syringes, sterile water or sharps disposals needed, the microneedle patch offers great hope of a new tool to reach the world’s children faster, even in the most remote areas. This advancement would be a major boost in our efforts to eliminate this disease, with more vaccines administered and more lives saved at less cost.”
James L. Goodson
The microneedle patch, under development by the CDC and Georgia Tech University, is designed to be used by health care workers with minimal training. It measures about a square centimeter and is administered with the press of a thumb.
According to the CDC, the underside of the patch is lined with “100 solid, conical microneedles made of polymer, sugar and vaccine that are a fraction of a millimeter in length.” The microneedles press into the upper layers of the skin and dissolve within a few minutes, releasing the vaccine. The patch is then discarded.
Because the microneedles dissolve, there is no disposal of needles, reducing the risk for accidental needlesticks, according to the CDC. The patch also is more stable at varying temperatures than currently available vaccines, which is expected to aid in transportation to remote areas.
Georgia Tech and the CDC’s Global Immunization Division and Division of Viral Diseases recently completed a study that showed the microneedle patch produces a strong immune response in rhesus macaques with no adverse effects. Human clinical trials could begin in 2017, according to the release.
The measles patch is expected to be manufactured at a cost comparable to the currently available needle and syringe vaccine.
“We think this collaboration with CDC is an excellent example of how advances in engineering can be used to address important public health problems,” researcher Mark R. Prausnitz, PhD, of Georgia Tech, said in the release.
Twenty million people are affected by measles annually, according to the CDC. Global coverage with the measles vaccine has remained stagnant for the last few years at around 85%, far below the coverage of up to 95% required to interrupt disease transmission. – by David Jwanier
Reference:
Edens C, et al. Vaccine. 2015;doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.02.074.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.