An AU$3.2 million prize has been awarded to AIBN researchers and industry partner Vaxxas to develop and distribute an easy-to-use, next-generation COVID-19 mRNA vaccine on the company’s needle-free patch.
mRNA vaccines are highly effective at protecting people from diseases like COVID-19, but their distribution requires ultra-cold storage and trained medical professionals for administration.
In the latest chapter of a 15-year collaboration with Vaxxas and its high-density microarray patch (HD-MAP) technology, AIBN’s world-leading mRNA BASE facility aims to solve these challenges.
The prize from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), as part of its Patch Forward Prize, will help accelerate the use of Vaxxas’ HD-MAP technology for mRNA vaccine administration at the BASE facility.
Vaxxas Senior Vice President Pipeline Development Dr. Deborah Pascoe stated that the BARDA award highlights the importance of partnering with a global leader in mRNA research and manufacturing.
“UQ’s BASE facility is a world leader in mRNA research and manufacturing, with a focus on industry collaboration to translate research into impactful public health solutions,” Dr. Pascoe said.
“This prize enables Vaxxas and BASE to advance HD-MAP technology towards potential preclinical studies with Vaxxas’ mRNA COVID-19 vaccine candidate.”
BASE Director Professor Timothy Mercer emphasized the patch’s potential to improve access to mRNA vaccines globally, especially in lower and middle-income countries where distribution and administration pose challenges.
“This funding supports research to improve the thermostability of mRNA vaccines on the Vaxxas patch,” Professor Mercer said.
“This work could help prepare for future pandemics and make life-saving vaccines accessible in regions lacking cold-chain infrastructure.”
The Story So Far: Vaxxas Case Study
AIBN was established to focus on multidisciplinary, translational research, fostering industry partnerships and technology commercialization. AIBN Director Professor Alan Rowan cited Vaxxas as a prime example of their translational research efforts.
Vaxxas is renowned for its needle-free vaccine technology, the HD-MAP, which originated from AIBN research. Established in 2011 as a startup through UniQuest, Vaxxas provides an alternative to traditional needle and syringe delivery methods.
“From a lab concept to a successful company, then back to collaborate with our world-class facilities—this is a success story of AIBN’s impact,” Professor Rowan said.
Benefits of HD-MAP Technology
The HD-MAP is a small patch with thousands of microprojections coated in a dried vaccine formulation. When applied to the skin, it delivers the vaccine to immune cells beneath the surface.
HD-MAP vaccines require less cold-chain storage and can potentially be self-administered using an easy-to-use applicator. These features could enable faster and broader vaccine distribution, particularly in resource-limited settings.
BASE: A Complete Pipeline for mRNA Technology
Located at AIBN, BASE is Australia’s leading provider of mRNA for research and pre-clinical studies, offering end-to-end vaccine development capabilities from design to clinical trials.
The highly customizable mRNA platform has provided a rapid and cost-effective pipeline for vaccines and therapies, with soaring demand since its launch in 2021. BASE is also expected to play a crucial role in future treatments for cancers and genetic diseases.
BASE has delivered over 300 vaccines, therapies, and reagents for scientific, clinical, and industry partners. As Australia’s largest supplier of mRNA vaccines for research, the BASE facility is positioned to lead global mRNA translation efforts.
What is The BARDA Patch Forward Prize?
The BARDA Patch Forward Prize is a major incentive backed by the US Department of Health and Human Services.
The UQ and Vaxxas partnership is among four Concept Stage winners in the US$50 million prize program, designed to advance microneedle patch-based mRNA vaccines for COVID-19, seasonal influenza, and pandemic influenza.
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