Technical, economic, and clinical challenges to the development of new biomaterials-based vaccines

Abstract

Research into novel vaccine methods is becoming increasingly important for the potential treatment of widespread diseases such as cancer, HIV, and malaria. Members of the Irvine laboratory have developed a hydrogel and particle-based injectable vaccine with the potential to treat such diseases. The vaccine aims to elicit a tailored immune response to a particular type of disease so as to destroy infected or cells in the body and/or develop immunological memory for future protection against the disease. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the feasibility of getting such a biomaterials-based novel vaccination method to the market. Topics such as application potential, efficacy, modes of delivery, storage, patent ability, and costs for producing the vaccine are explored. Finally, a suggested business strategy is outlined, through which value can be successfully obtained from the novel vaccine.