Golden, Colorado-based PharmaJet picked up a Phase II grant from the NIH (National Institutes of Health). It allows the company to evaluate the immunogenicity of the intradermal administration of human papillomavirus virus (HPV) vaccine. The study compares PharmaJet’s Tropis intradermal, needle-free injection system against traditional needle and syringe intramuscular administration.
According to a news release, the study will be performed in collaboration with Padjadjaran University (UNPAD) in Indonesia. PharmaJet expects the study to recruit approximately 900 girls aged nine to 14 in early 2023. This follows PharmaJet’s preliminary studies evaluating intradermal delivery for HPV vaccines.
“We are pleased to receive this grant from the NIH to evaluate the feasibility of needle-free intradermal vaccine delivery for HPV,” said Erin Spiegel, VP of clinical and regulatory affairs for PharmaJet. “Intradermal administration of vaccines can provide benefits for low resource settings including lower costs, increased coverage, and increased acceptability.”
PharmaJet said intradermal administration represents a safe, effective, immunogenic option for polio vaccine delivery. Healthcare workers and patients prefer using the Tropis needle-free approach in polio vaccine delivery, too, the company said.
Other uses for PharmaJet’s needle-free vaccine delivery include COVID-19 vaccines and other RNA and DNA candidates. Earlier this year, the company announced study data demonstrating increased immunogenicity when using the needle-free delivery system.
