The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovations (CEPI) has awarded $3.7 million to Atlanta-based Micron Biomedical to develop a small, dissolvable “button” that delivers needle-free vaccines. This technology aims to address critical vaccine access challenges.
Micron Biomedical’s button-like device can be applied to the skin and, when pushed, delivers the vaccine painlessly without refrigeration. The system has shown promising results in clinical trials for seasonal flu and measles vaccines.
CEPI plans to use COVID-19 as a target pathogen in the next phase of research, comparing the performance of the button against traditional intramuscular or nasal vaccine versions. CEPI’s acting executive director notes that this project brings advanced vaccine patch technology to their portfolio, complementing CastleVax’s rapid response platform.
Source: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/pandemic-influenza/cepi-announces-award-advance-needle-free-vaccine-delivery-technology