Clinical-stage Australian biotechnology company Vaxxas will receive $3.2 million from the US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to support the further development of its high-density microarray patch (HD-MAP) technology for administration of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine.
Vaxxas was awarded the funding after being named a Concept Stage winner of BARDA’s $50 million Patch Forward Prize.
The Patch Forward Prize is a multi-stage competition launched by BARDA to accelerate the commercialisation of microarray patch-based RNA vaccines for COVID-19, seasonal influenza and pandemic influenza.
Vaxxas will collaborate with The University of Queensland’s mRNA research and manufacturing BASE facility, a co-applicant on Vaxxas’ application, to advance this program during 2025.
Vaxxas CEO David Hoey said, “We're honoured to have our world-leading microarray patch technology chosen to be part of this important BARDA-led public health initiative to accelerate new vaccine technologies.
“We’re excited about the potential for our technology to play an important role in effectively protecting populations against dangerous respiratory infectious diseases such as influenza and COVID-19.”
Vaxxas is currently partnering with BARDA on a $43 million Phase 1 clinical study for a pre-pandemic influenza vaccine. The study involves 258 participants.
Vaxxas has also been progressing its work in mRNA vaccines through a $6.4 million project funded by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), focused on developing its needle-free vaccination platform to overcome frozen storage requirements of mRNA vaccines.
Vaxxas said early studies have shown that its HD-MAP technology has the potential to overcome challenges faced by traditional needle and syringe delivery methods, including having the potential to reduce the need for cold-chain storage and distribution, which currently limits the availability of mRNA vaccines.
HD-MAP delivery also has the potential to enable self-administration, which could help increase the speed and breadth of vaccination, particularly in a future pandemic situation.