According to David Hoey, CEO of Vaxxas, during large-scale laboratory tests, "the patch with a protein-based vaccine showed high efficiency," TASS reports.

"We have proven the ability of a vaccine delivered to the body using a patch to neutralize all known variants of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19," he said.

The conclusions of the company's specialists were confirmed by scientists from the University of Queensland. As David Mueller, a senior researcher at the Department of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, noted, the drug administered with a patch "generates a broad immune response, which makes it possible to neutralize every strain of coronavirus."

"We tested its effect on the first strain obtained in Wuhan, and then tested the reaction to the variants "alpha", "beta", "gamma", "delta", "kappa", "lambda" and "omicron". In all the samples, we recorded the ability of the patch with the vaccine] to neutralize the virus," Mueller said.

According to Vaxxas experts, as soon as the effectiveness and safety of the patches are proven during human trials, which will begin in Brisbane, Australia, in the fourth quarter of 2022, they will be brought first to the local market, and then to the international one. By the end of 2023, the company plans to produce at least 300 million patches per year.

"Mass production of patches cheaper than syringes and needles will help immunize developing countries against COVID-19 and increase vaccination rates among those who cannot give an injection," the company said.

Vaxxas also pointed out the high safety of its products, which are a small flat aluminum cylinder with a diameter of about 3 cm and a thickness of 12 mm. It can be applied independently by simply sticking it on the shoulder and crushing the capsule with the drug embedded in the upper surface of the patch. The vaccine in it remains stable at any temperature and can be stored for 12 months.