GOLDEN, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- PharmaJet^®, the maker of innovative, needle-free injection technology, today announced that patient enrollment has started for the phase 1 trial in Australia using its Needle-free Injection Systems to deliver a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. COVIGEN, a DNA-based vaccine was developed by French-Thai pharmaceutical company BioNet-Asia in collaboration with and Melbourne-based biotech Technovalia. The PharmaJet System was chosen due to its record of increasing the effectiveness of DNA vaccines, ease-of-use, and speed of the delivery system compared to traditional needle and syringe.

The needle-free technology was featured on 9 News Australia on June 24, 2021. Lead Principal Investigator, Associate Professor Nicholas Wood, from The University of Sydney Children’s Hospital Westmead Clinical School commented, “The vaccine contains DNA instructions to teach the cells how to make the COVID spike proteins, so the body’s immune system can build a defense. With this type of vaccine, it is especially important to get it inside human cells. The PharmaJet Needle-free System is pivotal for the delivery into the skin or muscle….it really is the key to get the genetic code into the cells.”

Professor Peter Richmond of the Telethon Kids Institute added, “The PharmaJet Needle-free Injector is not only very easy to administer, but we also believe it will be well tolerated by the participants. In my own experience, I didn’t feel much at all…it felt more like a ‘flick’ on the skin. It is really important to evaluate needle-free delivery as a method to deliver vaccines for the future.”

“We are pleased to be collaborating with BioNet-Asia and their partners as they begin their clinical trials,” commented Chris Cappello, President and CEO, PharmaJet. “Our Needle-free Systems are proven to generate an equal or superior immune response, as well as improve both the patient and caregiver experience.”¹

For more information about PharmaJet visit www.pharmajet.com.

Refer to Instructions for Use to ensure safe injections and to review risks.

¹ Data on file

About PharmaJet

PharmaJet’s mission is to improve people’s lives through needle-free technology. The PharmaJet Needle-free Systems are safe, fast, and easy-to-use. They eliminate needlestick injuries, needle reuse and cross contamination, and help reduce sharps waste disposal. The Stratis^® System has U.S. FDA 510(k) marketing clearance, CE Mark, and WHO PQS certification to deliver medications and vaccines either intramuscularly or subcutaneously. The Tropis^® System has CE Mark and WHO PQS certification for intradermal injections. For more information visit www.pharmajet.com.

About BioNet

BioNet is a French-Thai fully-integrated company focusing on the discovery, manufacturing and supply of innovative life-saving vaccines. BioNet is the world’s only manufacturer of recombinant pertussis-only vaccine (Pertagen®, aP vaccine) and a TdaP recombinant vaccine (Boostagen®), containing a genetically-inactivated pertussis toxin (PTgen). BioNet has been developing genetic vaccines against SARS-CoV2 and its variant strains suing DNA and mRNA technology platforms. COVIGEN is a COVID-19 DNA vaccine to be evaluated in human trials in Australia and in Thailand. www.bionet-asia.com

About Technovalia

Melbourne-based Technovalia is a privately-owned Australian biotech company dedicated to the research and development of innovative vaccines and diagnostics. In partnership with several academic organizations and international companies, Technovalia is investing in the development of new technology platforms that have the potential to significantly improve protection against several infectious diseases by producing safer, more stable and more cost-effective vaccines and diagnostics. Technovalia is working with The Telehon Kids Institute, WA, to test BioNet’s recombinant acellular pertussis-only vaccine Pertagen® in PertaPrime, a phase II-III randomized controlled trial in Australia. www.technovalia.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210630005037/en/