Trypanophobia is literally the fear of needles. And for all those who suffer from this phobia, a savior has arrived: Bill Gates.
And the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation decided to invest 23.6 million dollars to finance Micron Biomedicalan American research company.
The goal of the Gates marriage? Support mass production of innovative needle-free vaccination technology.
The patch financed by Bill Gates
We are talking about a technology that uses soluble microneedles that adhere to the skin and are implemented using a device very similar to a patch, to administer the vaccine.
This investment seeks to address significant challenges in the delivery of vaccinations, especially in low-income countries, where the logistics of reaching all children requiring injections remain a major challenge.
In that sense, the new technology financed by the creator of Microsoft It is easier to transport and apply compared to traditional injections.
First tests
A clinical trial conducted in Gambia During this year it demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of the Micron device when administering the vaccine against measles and rubella, produced by the Serum Institute of India.
The results indicated that the immune response generated was similar to that obtained using traditional syringes.
In this regard, James Goodson, senior scientist at the immunization division of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Preventionhighlighted that this technology could be key to overcoming crucial obstacles in the global eradication of measles and rubella.
When will it see the light?
The funding received will support the development of a manufacturing plant capable of producing around 10 million devices annually.
These will go to large scale clinical trials and subsequently to more widespread use, subject to approvals from regulatory authorities.
This advance represents a significant step towards simplifying and improving vaccine administration worldwide and Bill Gates knows it.