PORTLAND, Ore., May 6 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy has announced a partnership with Bioject Medical Technologies Inc. to develop a needle-free technology for a malaria vaccine.
U.S. company and needle-free injection-systems developer Bioject announced it has entered into a cooperative research and development agreement with the Navy. Under the two-year research agreement, Bioject and the Navy will study the use of the company's Biojector 2000 needle-free injection system with a malaria vaccine in human subjects.
According to a news release, the Navy selected Bioject after a previous study showed that needle-free jet injections "for intramuscular administration" found "immune responses were stronger than when the same vaccine was administered by needle."
"We are excited to show through this research agreement the performance levels achievable using the Biojector to deliver malaria vaccines as compared to use of a needle delivery method," Dr. Richard Stout, Bioject executive vice president and chief medical officer, said in a statement.
