Influenza vaccination using a microneedle patch

描述（由申请人提供）：流感是全球发病率和死亡率的主要原因。尽管疫苗接种是预防感染的最有效策略，但流感疫苗接种覆盖率不足，需要改进疫苗的免疫原性。我们建议开发一种微针贴片，它足够简单，可以通过自我给药来增加疫苗接种覆盖率，并且专门设计用于通过靶向皮肤中的树突状细胞来提高免疫原性。微针（MN）是一种微米级的固体针头，通过简单、无痛和微创的方法将疫苗直接注射到皮肤中。该贴片的设计目的是使皮肤疫苗接种贴片应用时间仅为几秒钟，不产生尖锐的生物有害废物，抗原在不冷藏的情况下储存期间保持稳定。这一里程碑式项目的目标是开发用于流感疫苗接种的MN贴片，并在I期临床试验中评估其安全性和免疫原性。在Aim 1中，基于佐治亚理工学院，我们将设计，制定和制造MN，以实现简单，快速应用和长期稳定性。在Aim 2中，基于Emory，我们将在三种动物模型中评估MN疫苗接种，目的是验证人体试验的适用性并增强免疫原性。目标3将与外部承包商和顾问一起开发和验证cGMP生产，进行GLP临床前研究并获得IND。这项工作将在目标4中在Emory’s Hope Clinic进行I期临床试验，以评估使用MN贴片接种流感疫苗的安全性、耐受性、免疫原性和可接受性。最后，目标5将以适宜卫生技术方案为基础，评估与自我接种流感疫苗有关的监管、成本和政策问题。这项研究的预期结果是：(i)开发出一种低成本的MN贴片，以简单、快速的方式接种流感疫苗；（ii）确定基于MN的流感疫苗与IM疫苗相比的免疫学差异和优势，将用于改进MN贴片；（iii）根据FDA的cGMP和IND批准生产用于流感疫苗的MN贴片；（iv）完成评估安全性、耐受性的i期临床试验。使用MN接种流感疫苗的免疫原性和可接受性，以及(v)确定监管、成本和政策问题，以指导开发和未来将我们的MN贴片引入临床实践。这些结果不仅影响流感疫苗接种，而且还为使用MN贴剂的其他疫苗和药物的递送提供了基础。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Influenza is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although vaccination is the most effective Strategy to prevent infection, influenza vaccination coverage is insufficient and improved vaccine immunogenicity is needed. We propose development of a microneedle patch that is simple enough to increase vaccination coverage by enabling self-administration and specifically designed to improve immunogenicity by targeting dendritic cells in skin. Microneedles (MN) are micron-scale, solid needles that administer vaccine directly into skin using a simple, painless and minimally invasive approach. The patch is designed to enable skin vaccination with a patch application time of just seconds, generation of no sharp biohazardous waste, and antigen stability during storage without refrigeration. The goal of this milestone-driven project is to develop a MN patch for influenza vaccination and assess its safety and immunogenicity in a Phase I clinical trial. In Aim 1, based at Georgia Tech, we will design, formulate, and fabricate MN for simple, rapid application and long-term stability. In Aim 2, based at Emory, we will assess MN vaccination in three animal models with the goals of validating suitability for human trials and enhancing immunogenicity. Aim 3 will be achieved with external contractors and consultants to develop and validate cGMP manufacturing, conduct GLP preclinical studies and obtain an IND. This work will culminate in a Phase I clinical trial carried out in Aim 4 at Emory's Hope Clinic to assess safety, tolerability, immunogenicity and acceptability of influenza vaccination using a MN patch. Finally, Aim 5 will be based at PATH to assess regulatory, cost and policy issues associated with self-administered influenza vaccination. Expected outcomes from this research are (i) development of a low-cost MN patch that administers influenza vaccine in a simple, rapid manner, (ii) identification of immunologic differences and advantages of MN-based influenza vaccination compared to IM vaccination that will be used to improve the MN patch, (iii) production of MN patches for influenza vaccination under cGMP and IND approval from FDA, (iv) completion of a Phase I clinical trial assessing safety, tolerability, immunogenicity and acceptability of influenza vaccination using MN and (v) identification of regulatory, cost and policy issues to guide development and future introduction of our MN patch into clinical practice. These outcomes not only impact influenza vaccination, but also provide a basis for delivery of other vaccines and drugs using MN patches. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Despite annual influenza vaccination campaigns, CDC attributes 36,000 deaths and 226,000 hospitalizations per year in the US to influenza, with an associated cost of ~$100 billion per year. As a quantum advance, this project will develop a novel microneedle patch designed to increase vaccination coverage by enabling simple, self-vaccination and increase vaccine immunogenicity by targeting antigen delivery to skin. The proposed Phase I clinical trial will provide the first human study of this technology.