CDC Awards Contract to PharmaJet® for Development of Needle‐Free Intradermal Vaccine Delivery Device

GOLDEN, Colo. – Jan. 27, 2011 – The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has awarded PharmaJet with a substantial grant to develop needle-free injection devices for intradermal (ID) vaccine delivery. Accurate vaccine delivery into the layers of skin, rather than into muscle, holds the promise of providing protection from disease and doing so with less vaccine, less pain and decreased demand on expensive logistics, such as transportation and cold chain. Intradermal delivery has the potential to reduce the amount of vaccine required, by as much as 80% in some cases, leading to cost savings and expanded coverage for vaccines in limited supply. The current needle‐based “Mantoux” method of ID delivery is technically difficult, painful for the patient and time consuming. PharmaJet aims to eliminate this barrier by bringing to market a needle‐free injection technology that is:
  1. easy and intuitive to use in individual or mass vaccination settings;
  2. at a competitive cost;
  3. reliable for a broad spectrum of skin types (e.g., infants, children, youth and adults);
  4. used with any vaccine licensed or considered appropriate for ID delivery; and
  5. safe; eliminating needlestick injuries and needle reuse.
A mechanism for reliable, affordable and simple ID delivery could immediately address significant and meaningful public health issues: (a) helping to reduce the cost of vaccine delivery programs worldwide, and (b) facilitating the accurate and consistent intradermal delivery of vaccines, enabling more effective care. The PharmaJet device will enable routine public health use of lower-cost dose-sparing strategies for mass vaccination and pandemic vaccine stockpile management. “The award of this SBIR Phase II contract will advance development of our technology, permitting dose-sparing stategies for some vaccines, improving the efficacy of others and positioning PharmaJet to play a pivotal role in global vaccine delivery,” says Dr. Michael Royals, PharmaJet’s Head, Global Technology Development and Chief Science Officer. “A non-needle based solution that enables easy delivery of injectable vaccine will assist initiatives such as the Global Polio Eradication Program, and fits with PharmaJet’s core mission to help lower disease transmission and global disease burden.”