Micron Biomedical received a $7.5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, bringing total funding from the foundation to $43 million. This grant will support the ongoing development and scaling of Micron’s needle-free dissolvable microarray technology for measles-rubella (MR) vaccines, including a phase 2 trial in infants. David Robinson of the Gates Foundation will join Micron’s board as an observer.
This development is crucial for global public health, particularly in regions with limited healthcare infrastructure. Micron’s technology addresses significant barriers to vaccine access, such as cold chain requirements and the need for trained clinicians. A successful phase 2 trial could pave the way for widespread adoption of this needle-free vaccine delivery method, potentially saving countless lives, particularly among children in low- and middle-income countries. This advancement also offers potential benefits for higher-income countries by addressing needle hesitancy and improving patient compliance.
The funding will be used to scale up manufacturing of the MR vaccine using Micron’s microarray technology. This technology has already shown promise in a phase 1/2 trial published in The Lancet, demonstrating safety, immunogenicity, and acceptability in children as young as nine months old. This trial represents the first successful use of needle-free microarray technology to deliver a vaccine to this age group. The ease of administration and lack of required refrigeration could dramatically simplify vaccination campaigns in remote or underserved areas.
This latest grant and the addition of David Robinson to the board signal strong confidence in Micron’s technology and its potential to revolutionize vaccine delivery. The continued development and successful commercialization of this technology could significantly improve global vaccination rates for measles and rubella, moving closer to eradication and improving health outcomes worldwide. It could also open doors for utilizing this technology for other vaccines and therapeutics, furthering Micron’s impact on global health.
Jon Napitupulu is Director of Media Relations at The Clinical Trial Vanguard. Jon, a computer data scientist, focuses on the latest clinical trial industry news and trends.
