Pharma Latch: revolutionising vaccination
A new technology designed by Australian biomedical entrepreneur, Dr Nicky Bertollo, is on the verge of transforming the medical industry. Pharma Latch, a Dublin based company, founded by Dr Bertollo and Ronan Byrne, is currently in negotiations with John Hopkins University, the Mayo Clinic and the Food and Drug Administration of America (FDA) for exploring the possibilities of the product. Pharma Latch is expected to hit the American market in mid 2025 initially for intradermal vaccination, with plans to diversify its uses in the future.
Dr Bertollo explained the Latch device as follows, “Pharma Latch is a single use, disposable medical device that will be used by Healthcare Professionals to inject liquid vaccines and drugs into the skin of patients. This method is generally referred to as intradermal delivery, because it targets the ‘dermal’ layer of skin.”
This method of injection allows the product to fulfil a variety of purposes, most notably the administration of intradermal vaccinations, such as the Monkey Pox or Rabies vaccines. Intradermal vaccination is currently both very painful for the patient, and extremely difficult for those administering it, with only 30% of such vaccines being successfully delivered.
Pharma Latch has devised an improved way to administer intradermal vaccines, as well as needle-based drug delivery. Its unique design and use (shown below) uses micro-needles to attach to the skin in a relatively painless way. This makes vaccines significantly less painful and easier to deliver and also provides more consistent dosing than other technologies.
Owing to both the inconsistency and painfulness of the current form of vaccinations, and the recent outbreak of Monkeypox, finding a new way to deliver intradermal vaccinations has been a common target among many companies in the medical industry.
This has led to Pharma Latch having competitors in creating a better form of intradermal vaccination and drug delivery, including companies such as Nutriband and Powderject. This provides Pharma Latch with serious competition for drug delivery intradermally and transdermally. However, none of the companies have been successful in improving the process of intradermal vaccination, giving Pharma Latch a significant edge.
Currently, the Pharma Latch technology has been fully designed and is being manufactured in the United States. The company is in discussion with the FDA to get approval for human use in America.
Dr Bertollo says the future of Pharma Latch is bright, with many possibilities for their technology. From administering emerging cancer vaccines, to a version used for self-injection of drugs, to wearable patches capable of long-term drug delivery, the options for this product are seemingly endless.
Pharma Latch has entered agreements with many significant universities, businesses and institutes who are backing the capabilities and potential of this product. The Pandemic Institute has said “We are excited to be working with Pharma Latch going forward”.
“Ultimately, because Pharma Latch is truly a ‘platform technology’ it can support a range of different drug delivery device designs we haven’t even thought of, so the future of the company is hugely exciting.”
Dr Nicky Bertollo
With so much potential for their innovative technology, Pharma Latch is primed to revolutionise vaccination, and medical injections. Keep an eye on this exciting company, as soon enough you could be getting a vaccine using a Pharma Latch patch.
Coen B, Year 8