パッチ型ワクチン 開発マジか？

ちょっと面白い記事を見つけたのでUPしてみました♪

（特にHSVとは関連ありませんので、あしからず…）

タイトルからもお分かりになるかと思うのですが…、


待望の「針なし薬物デリバリーシステム」が完成マジか！


のようで、150年前に注射器が発明されて以来の大発明となるようです！




開発したのは、オーストラリア University of QueenslandのKendall博士なのですが、記事によると、従来の針を使った注射器を使った方法とは全く異なる方法を開発しており、皮膚に貼る「パッチ」にある無数の突起みたいなものから皮膚に薬剤を投与する方法を編み出したようなんです…。詳しくは分からないのですが、どうやら皮膚には免疫機能に関係する細胞がたくさんあり、直接皮膚にワクチンを投与した方が効果があるようでして、インフルエンザのワクチンであれば、150分の1の量で効果があるようなんです☆

このシステムのスゴイところは、「患者が痛さを感じない」、「HIVやC型肝炎などの注射針からの感染が無くなる」だけでなく、

従来必要であった、ワクチンの温度管理が必要なくなる

という点にもあるようです。

アフリカなどではワクチンがあっても、適切な温度で管理されない（管理する施設などが整備されていない？）ために、ワクチン自体がダメになってしまうケースが多いようでして…。今回のようなパッチ形式にすることで、ワクチン自体が温度などの影響を受けることがなくなるようなんです！


「痛くない注射」が生み出す、大きな効果に期待ですね☆



Needle-free nanopatch vaccine delivery system

Published on August 3, 2011 at 1:00 AM · No Comments

http://www.news-medical.net/news/20110803/Needle-free-nanopatch-vaccine-delivery-system.aspx

By Dr Ananya Mandal, MD

The needle-free nanopatch vaccine delivery system is coming soon after a consortium of investors put up $15 million for its development. The money will enable University of Queensland's Professor Mark Kendall to continue his work on the technology. It is described as the biggest breakthrough in vaccine delivery since the invention of the syringe more than 150 years ago.

The nanopatch has thousands of small projections to deliver vaccines to abundant immune cells in the skin, doing away with needles plunged into muscle where there are few immune cells. Early stage testing in animals has shown a nanopatch-delivered flu vaccine is effective with only 1/150th of the dose compared to a syringe. The nanopatch is also expected to cut needle stick injuries and cross contamination. This would avoid needle borne diseases like HIV and hepatitis. And it does not need refrigeration like traditional vaccines.

Prof Kendall of the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, said that's one of the most exciting things about the new technology because it will dramatically cut costs and make transportation easier. He said, “In Africa about half of vaccines aren't working properly because of a breakdown in the cold chain…The nanopatch also offers a way to stop needle-stick injuries during vaccination.” He explained that the idea came to him about eight years ago when he was bored at a conference and “started doodling”.

Money from the Federal Government's innovation investment fund has helped establish the new company Vaxxas, which will commercialise the nanopatch. The investment is led by OneVentures, with co-investors Brandon Capital, the Medical Research Commercialisation Fund (MRCF) and US-based HealthCare Ventures.

OneVentures General Partner Dr Paul Kelly said the significance of the million investment was not just in its size. “This investment syndicate includes both local and international investors, which is a real vote of confidence in the Nanopatch approach and an appreciation of the potential of the technology to revolutionize vaccine delivery worldwide,” Dr Kelly said. Dr Kelly will join the Board of Directors of Vaxxas, along with Brandon Capital Partners Managing Director Dr Stephen Thompson; HealthCare Ventures Managing Director Douglas E. Onsi; and UniQuest General Manager of Life Sciences Dr Dean Moss.

Dr Thompson said launching Vaxxas as a company was a critical next step for the Nanopatch technology. “In Australia, we invest heavily in our excellent research and development capability but have a relatively poor record of taking those technologies to world markets,” he said. “The syndicate's investment in Vaxxas is consistent with its willingness to work with Australia's leading research institutes, including the AIBN, to transform this exciting research effort into a commercially useful product. We need to convert the promise of the technology into a reality.”

Mr Onsi said the Nanopatch had the potential to transform vaccine delivery for the pharmaceutical industry and for patients around the world. “HealthCare Ventures searches globally for the most promising innovations in life sciences and we are very pleased to make our first Australian investment in Vaxxas,” he said.