On Oct. 6, 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced funding of a patch that could administer vaccines without traditional needles.

The 3-year agreement between the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, and Vaxxas – headquartered in Brisbane, Australia with offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts – the company planned U.S. and Australian Phase 1 clinical trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an easy-to-use, high-density micro-array patch (HD-MAP) and other development activities for the patch.

The goal is to simplify and optimize manufacturing, storing, shipping and distributing needles and syringes.