Innoture Ltd, a UK leading company specialising in transdermal treatment delivery systems, has received funding from the Welsh Government via SMARTCymru 2014-2020 European Regional Development Fund West Wales and the Valleys to initiate proof-of-concept research into the use of its next-generation microneedle skin patch for the self-administration of COVID-19 and other vaccines.
The research, which has started, will be conducted at Innoture’s laboratories located in the Institute of Life Science (ILS 2) at Swansea University. The patch will be tested to deliver a vaccine dose via the skin, as well as achieve a simple and secure disposal process to enable at-home use.
Dr Michael Graz, Chief Scientific Officer of Innoture, said: “In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, vaccine developers and manufacturers face a major challenge to rapidly develop and upscale their vaccination programmes as the demand for needles, glass vials plus other treatment delivery supplies, increases. Therefore, it is vital that alternative delivery options are considered by the UK – and international – health community.”
He added: “‘Our transdermal delivery system has the potential to improve patient experience and significantly reduce the burden on the NHS and other healthcare systems. The patch is painless and minimally invasive for patients to self-administer. At a time when self-isolation is necessary, the patch can be applied with ease in the home under guidance from a healthcare professional, reducing the need for people to attend a clinic. In addition, for healthcare professionals, it shortens consultation or appointment times and potentially removes the need for cold-chain storage.”
A spokesperson from SMARTCymru said: “We are pleased to support this important and transformative research. Wales could be the first country to have a mass produced, flexible skin patch for the self-administration of vaccines. The project will also result in an expanded R&D capability in Swansea, leading to new employment for the region.”
Ken Jones, Chief Executive Officer of Innoture, said: “We would like to thank the Welsh Government for their support, enabling us to initiate this important research. This represents a significant milestone for our company, and further validation of our next-generation transdermal delivery system. We are actively seeking new partners from the global pharmaceutical industry, academia, and non-governmental organisations to collaborate with us on this study. We believe that our innovative technology will make a meaningful difference to improve patient and public health.”
