Taiwan scientists pioneer DNA vaccine patches

Taiwan News Online

Central News Agency
Page 2
2009-06-25 12:52 AM

A Taiwanese research team has made a breakthrough in the development of DNA-based vaccine patches that can replace invasive injections as a vaccine delivery method. The research team leader, Wu Chang-jer, an associate professor at National Taiwan Ocean University, said the DNA-based vaccine patch uses the skin’s liposomes as a transport vehicle to deliver vaccine into the body. Although the cost of producing a DNA-based vaccine patch is about the same as a regular dose of DNA-based vaccine, the patches are easier to apply, free from the risk of needle contamination and more comfortable for the inoculation receivers, he noted. The DNA vaccine patches, if approved for use on humans, could be used to deliver vaccines against Japanese encephalitis, hepatitis C, dengue fever and even SARS or influenza A(H1N1), Wu said.

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