£200k funding to create skin-patch vaccine

WELSH scientists are getting £200,000 government funding to produce a skin-patch vaccine for coronavirus – to help people who are scared of needles.

The skin patch will allow people to treat themselves at home instead of going to the doctor’s surgery for needle injections.

Advice would be given over the phone on how to safely use the vaccine – meaning those self-isolating would not have to go outside. It is the brainchild of company Innoture – focusing on using microneedles in 3D-printed skin patches to administer medicine through the skin.

Testing on the patch is now taking place at its laboratories at the Institute of Life Science at Swansea University.

Dr Michael Graz, chief scientific officer of Innoture, said: “The patch is painless and minimally invasive for patients to selfadminister. 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.

“Our transdermal delivery system has the potential to improve patient experience and significantly reduce the burden on the NHS and other healthcare systems.”