Analysis: new needle patches are in development which can safely and efficiently deliver medicine through your skin without any pain
A lot of people, includinh myself, are not fans of needles or getting shots. But for about 20% of the population, this fear of needles goes beyond just not liking them and it becomes a full-blown needle phobia. This means they do everything they can to avoid needles altogether, which can be a big issue when it comes to getting vaccinations.
There's also the issue of needlestick injuries adding to the concern about needles. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimate that approximately 1.3 million people die each year due to the risk of cross-contamination from these injuries.
You may also have heard about the challenges in maintaining the "cold chain" during the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines. This means keeping the vaccines refrigerated from the time they are produced until they are administered, which is a complex logistical task. About half of the vaccines used worldwide are considered ineffective because, at some point along the way, the cold chain is disrupted. This is closely linked to the use of syringes and needles because vaccines are in liquid form, and liquid vaccines require refrigeration to remain effective.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Liveline, listeners call in to talk about their fear of needles
But what if we could use the fear of needles to bring about a new era in medicine? The good news is that a research team at UCC's School of Pharmacy has come up with a solution to fix these problems: a microneedle patch. The patch can deliver medicine through the skin without any pain and in a more efficient way compared to taking medicine by mouth or applying it on the skin. When you apply it to your skin, it goes through the outer layer and begins to dissolve, releasing the medication into your skin.
How does a microneedle patch work?
The microneedle patch is like a small bandage with super-tiny needles on it. When you put it on your skin, the little needles go just a tiny bit into your skin, without any pain, to slowly give you the medicine to where it is needed. Scientists worldwide are using microneedles patches with vaccines, biologics and various medications. This could mean fewer trips to the doctor's office and less need for regular shots with big needles. It's especially helpful for people in less-developed countries who may not have access to traditional medical treatments.
The first version of our microneedle patch, DerMap, developed in UCC, is specifically aimed at treating fungal fingernail and toenail infections. The developed product will be applied like a plaster to the skin directly below the nail. The objective is to deliver the drug directly to this area, as this is the area from where blood supplies the entire nail.
How dissolvable microneedles would work
The area of the plaster in contact with the skin will be made of lots of tiny needles containing the drug. By piercing the skin with these tiny needles, the drug can travel into the nail blood supply killing the fungus. Delivering this drug in this manner will minimise the side effects and drug interactions experienced when the drug is given as a tablet. We also have three other promising treatments in the pipeline for basal cell carcinoma, psoriasis, and hormone replacement therapy.
From the lab to you
People think microneedling has been around for a really long time, but the first time someone recorded doing it was in 1905. A skin doctor named Ernst Kromayer was the first to officially do it, and he used different-sized dental tools to make scars, birthmarks, and dark spots on the skin look better or go away. Over time, microneedles have made a big impact on the skincare world and now it's the medical field's turn to catch up.
The journey from the laboratory to the pharmacy takes time, technology and money. We've successfully proven our concept with solid preclinical data. We've planned out our clinical trials and are getting ready to start human trials. We've had generous support from Enterprise Ireland in the last four years. Our ideas were protected with patents granted in 2020 to ensure our innovations are secure. We have already won a number of research awards including Innovation of the Year at the 2022 Pharma Industry Awards, the SSPC commercial activity of the year in Oct 2022 and Ideate Ireland 2023.
We are now at the commercialisation stage, working with our manufacturing partners to bring this novel technology and treatment to market. DerMap is now in a good spot to tackle medical problems, meet what patients need, and lead the way to a new era with safe, easy-to-get, and painless solutions. The long-term healthcare impact for people in Ireland and all over the world is our focus. The potential medical benefits and financial return from this technology could provide even greater returns over time for those that suffer from local skin diseases, which are common among the older people.
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
