Needle-Free RSV Vaccine Could Be Delivered Through the Skin

Vaxxas today announced that the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) has granted the company a license to a next-generation vaccine antigen (DS2) designed for use in prophylactic vaccines against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).

DS2 has been found to prompt a more robust and durable immune response against RSV than the antigen used in globally approved vaccines (DS-Cav1).

There are three RSV vaccines currently approved for use in the U.S.

"Published preclinical results show the potential immunogenic advantages of this next-generation antigen as the basis for an RSV vaccine that could offer more robust and durable protection against the virus, compared to vaccines already on the market,” David L. Hoey, President and CEO of Vaxxas, in a press release on October 28, 2024.

Furthermore, Vaxxas’ proprietary HD-MAP offers the potential for the first needle-free, room-temperature stable RSV vaccine.

The Vaxxas HD-MAP comprises thousands of microscopic projections molded into a small patch. Each microprojection is coated with a small dose of vaccine in a dried formulation. When applied to the skin using a proprietary applicator, the patch delivers the vaccine to the abundant immune cells that naturally reside immediately below the skin surface.

The company says, 'Ultimately, HD-MAPs could enable a future in which vaccine patches could be shipped directly to people, avoiding the delay, inconvenience, and safety challenges associated with traditional needle-and-syringe vaccine scheduling and administration.'