Skin Patch Flu Vaccine Trials Awaiting FDA Approval

http://unisci.com/stories/20004/1023001.htm

UAB researcher De-chu Tang, Ph.D., is awaiting FDA approval for human

trials -- without needles -- of a vaccine swabbed on the skin and

covered temporarily with an adhesive patch.

Following that approval, in 5-10 years, flu vaccinations could be as

simple as applying such an adhesive patch.

Eventually, the vaccine could be incorporated into the patch. Tang

invented the skin-targeted vaccine patch technology and demonstrated

that it is a "remote control" for creating an immune reaction in skin

cells.

"A biological army in the skin is constantly mobilized to ward off

infections," Tang said. "This is a very effective site for DNA-based

inoculations. Vaccine and instructions could be mailed to households

for use."

Needleless vaccination doesn't require refrigeration or medical

skill. And it has other advantages:

Writing in a Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)

editorial last summer, Gregory A. Poland, M.D., from the Mayo Medical

School and Foundation, and Robert Couch, M.D., from the Baylor

College of Medicine, said about the the intranasal flu vaccine:

"In the study by Nichol et al, 70 percent of study participants self-

administered the vaccine.

"This suggests a potential improvement in the ability to prevent

influenza transmission by the widespread means of painlessly self-

administering a vaccine whenever it is convenient. A further

advantage would be the ability to obtain the vaccine over the

counter, eliminating the cost and inconvenience barriers currently

associated with the mass influenza immunization programs.

"Such a vaccine also would be appealing for preventing epidemic

influenza transmission by mass immunization among the most efficient

transmitters of disease - school-aged children." (JAMA. 1999;282:182-

184)

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