A phase 1/2 randomized trial compared the delivery of the measles and rubella vaccine using a microarray patch, a small sticking plaster-like device with microscopic projections, or through conventional injection with a needle and syringe. The trial involved 45 adults, 120 toddlers, and 120 infants in The Gambia and found that the immune response induced by the microarray patch was as strong as the response from the traditional injection. Over 90% of infants were protected from measles and all were protected from rubella after a single dose of the vaccine using the microarray patch, which is already known to provide reliable protection.
The trial found no safety concerns associated with using the microarray patch for vaccine delivery. Researchers from the Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) led the trial, with support from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The patch was developed by Micron Biomedical Inc and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Results of the trial are published in The Lancet.
Microarray patches offer several advantages over conventional vaccination methods, particularly in low-resource settings. They are easier to transport and do not require cold storage, making them more accessible to remote areas in sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, they do not need to be administered by medical professionals, reducing the risk of needlestick injuries and potentially allowing volunteers to provide vaccinations after brief training.
In countries like the UK with well-resourced vaccination programs but low immunization coverage, microarray patches could offer a convenient and pain-free alternative to traditional injections, potentially encouraging more parents in disadvantaged areas to vaccinate their children. Professor Ed Clarke, a pediatrician leading the Vaccines and Immunity Theme at MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM, expressed excitement over the promising results of the trial and the potential for microarray patches to revolutionize vaccine delivery for measles and other diseases.
Dr. Ikechukwu Adigweme, also from MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM, highlighted the gratifying results of the study and the potential for greater vaccine equity among disadvantaged populations. The trial had limitations, including a small sample size and selection of healthy participants, but larger trials with broader groups of children and infants are being planned to determine the feasibility of recommending microarray patches for widespread use in childhood vaccination programs.
