PowderJect or PowerMed

     Discovery magazine called this a "Star Trek Hypo." We shall see. PowderJect, now known as PowderMed is working on powder vaccines that can delivered supposedly painlessly by a device that Dr. McCoy of Star Trek would find familiar. It delivers the vaccine into the outer layer of the skin, thus putting it in the best place for an immune response to occur.

     Some of the advantages of their method, according to the Powederject website, which alas, is no longer on the web, are, 1. as said above it delivers the vaccine to the epidermis, not the inside part of the skin, thus increasing the antibody response. 2. because the epidermis is a better place to put vaccines, less material will have to be injected, thus, hopefully, bringing down the cost of vaccines. 3. the vaccines will most likely be stable at room temperature, eliminating the need for refrigeration and special shipping. 4. it will become easier to formulate multiple vaccines. 5, it is simple and easy to use. 6. it eliminates the danger of needlestick risk to the health care worker. It is ironic that all this time they have been increasing the pain of vaccines by piercing the skin much deeper than is necessary!

Vaccines that are being developed include Hepatitis B prophylactic (prevents the disease), Hepatitis B therapeutic (helps those that already have it), HIV therapeutic, HIV prophylactic, Herpes, Flu, Cancer and Hanta.

       Powderject was bought by Chiron Pharmaceuticals and has become PowederMed. They have little information for parents about it on their website. Most of the current information is aimed solely at stockholders. This may change in the future. I keep updating this website and e-book. stay tuned.