Vaccine Microneedle Patch

About Vaccine Microneedle Patch

Microneedle patches are being developed for needle free vaccine delivery. The patches contain hundreds of microscopic needles that dissolve in the skin, delivering vaccine with little pain. Microneedle patches could potentially be given by people with minimal training. Some formulations are more heat stable, potentially reducing cold chain requirements. Results of a trial of a measles rubella microneedle patch in The Gambia were published in 2024. The patches were well tolerated and produced immune responses similar to injection. Microneedle flu vaccine candidates are also in development. Vaxxas, a company spun out of the University of Queensland, is developing microneedle patches for various vaccines. The technology could be particularly transformative for low resource settings where needles and cold chain are barriers. WHO and Gavi have expressed interest in the technology. Microneedle vaccine patches are not yet commercially available.