Study aims to assess the impact of vaccine administration methods on vaccination coverage and costs.

PharmaJet^®, a company that has developed and commercialized a needle-free platform to more effectively administer drugs and biologics, today announced they received a multi-year, $1.5 million grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to evaluate the impact of intradermal (ID) vaccine administration using their Tropis^® Needle-free Injection System (NFIS). The project will measure vaccine coverage and cost using Tropis ID for fractional inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) delivery compared to standard intramuscular delivery using needle and syringe (N/S).

Fractional dose IPV (fIPV) has been found to be safe, effective, and immunogenic. Delivered intradermally, 20% of the full dose is a viable alternative to full-dose IPV. Until recently, the only option for intradermal fIPV delivery was the Mantoux method using traditional N/S which can be difficult, slow, and painful, and requires significant training of healthcare workers. A preferred approach by healthcare workers and patients¹ is needle-free ID delivery using Tropis, which was developed with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Tropis is a WHO prequalified, hand-held device that delivers a pressurized liquid stream without a needle. In a study in Cuba that compared different devices, ID delivery of IPV with Tropis was immunologically as effective as the Mantoux method while offering cost savings, ease and consistency of delivery and the ability to extend limited vaccine stocks. Countries can also benefit from increased compliance and increased vaccination coverage as demonstrated in Pakistan where regions that implemented ID delivery with Tropis experienced an 18.4% increase in coverage compared with historical N/S full-dose delivery.

PharmaJet and partners, Jhpiego, PATH, Sydani Group, in collaboration with local governments in countries where the intervention is being piloted, will conduct a stratified-pair, cluster randomized study to assess the impact of needle-free delivery on vaccine coverage. Additionally, the mixed methods study will assess the programmatic feasibility, costs and sustainability, and develop a scaling plan for the introduction of Tropis IPV delivery.

“On this World Polio Day 2022, we restate our commitment to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and we are pleased to receive this grant from USAID Development Innovation Ventures. It is a great privilege to be working with PATH, Jhpiego, and Sydani Group on this important work,” said Paul LaBarre, Vice President of Global Business Development, PharmaJet, and study Principal Investigator.

For more information about PharmaJet visit https://pharmajet.com.

¹Daly, C. et al, Needle-free injectors for mass administration of fractional dose inactivated poliovirus vaccine in Karachi, Pakistan: A survey of caregiver and vaccinator acceptability, Vaccine, 18 February 2020, pages 1893-1898

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This press release is made possible by the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of PharmaJet and the Project Partners and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

About PharmaJet

PharmaJet’s mission is to enable greater access to life improving pharmaceuticals. We are committed to helping our partners realize their research and commercialization goals while making an impact on public health. PharmaJet Needle-free Systems provide increased vaccine effectiveness, a preferred patient and caregiver experience, and a proven path to commercialization. They are also safe, fast, and easy-to-use. The Stratis^® System has U.S. FDA 510(k) marketing clearance, CE Mark, and WHO PQS certification to deliver medications and vaccines either intramuscularly or subcutaneously. The Tropis^® System has CE Mark and WHO PQS certification for intradermal injections. For more information visit https://pharmajet.com. Follow us on LinkedIn.

About World Polio Day

World Polio Day is observed on the 24th of October every year with the purpose of developing increased polio awareness and actions that can be taken to eradicate the disease. The Rotary Foundation has been working to eradicate polio for more than 35 years. As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, polio cases have been reduced by 99.9 percent since their first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines in 1979. Rotary members have contributed more than $2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect nearly 3 billion children in 122 countries from this paralyzing disease. Their advocacy efforts have played a role in decisions by governments to contribute more than $10 billion to the effort. For more information go to endpolio.org.

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