At The World Vaccine Congress in Washington VaccineNation conducted a series of conversations with some of our experts. In this interview we meet BARDA’s Dr Kumiko Lippold, who joined us to share some very exciting news about Patch Forward Prize and what the team is looking for! Dr Lippold is a health scientist at BARDA, wearing “many different hats”! One such hat is Acting Branch Chief of the Alliance Office at DRIVe. Additionally, she is the programme manager for the prize that we discuss. It was great to speak to Dr Lippold; we hope that you enjoy the conversation and possibly get the encouragement to put yourself or your team forward!
The Patch Forward Prize
During the Congress Dr Lippold and team were sharing information about the newly launched “Patch Forward Prize“, with a prize purse of $50 million! We asked her to share a bit of insight into this initiative. She helpfully puts BARDA’s approach into context, with the mission of “advancing health security” and establish “really unique public private partnerships”. This means closely partnering with industry to “enhance our preparedness and response posture”.
“The Patch Forward Prize is one example of an innovative effort that we have within BARDA to help enhance our preparedness and response.”
It seeks to advance the development of a microneedle-based RNA vaccine.
“Ultimately our goal with this effort is to see a microneedle-based vaccine, either for COVID-19, seasonal flu, or pandemic influenza, which has become quite timely with the H5N1 emergence, and see that be formulated onto a microneedle patch that can ultimately be commercialised and reach the market where people can use it.”
This effort falls under Project NextGen to focus on “improving access to highly effective medical countermeasures”.
Meeting a need
As Dr Lippold mentions enhancing preparedness, we asked about the needs within this that the prize might be addressing. She identifies a “couple of different goals”. The first is the “promise” of microneedle patches as a “tool in our preparedness and response toolbox”.
“Microneedle patches are not necessarily the sole solution from that perspective, they are one component of a holistic, well-rounded response effort.”
Benefits from microneedle patches include increased thermostability and reduced reliance on cold-chain systems. Another goal is to “help support the development of both early-stage developers and advanced developers”. Companies are at “various stages of development”. Thus, the prize has been designed deliberately to ensure interests are balanced and the field is raised.
“In terms of the things that we’re trying to reach, and we’re trying to solicit as part of this, we’re trying to help facilitate the development of new impactful partnerships, the things that are at the heart of what BARDA aims to do…so that we can help mature these microneedle patches.”
Getting involved
We then asked Dr Lippold what a successful or ideal application might involve, to shed some light or provide some hints for anyone who is interested!
“The real strength of a prize challenge is that it allows us to put a really ambitious goal, and be a little agnostic to the solution.”
While BARDA has “typically” operated with contracts, the prize challenge is a new way of identifying and encouraging innovation.
“We are putting out the goal of ‘formulate an RNA vaccine onto a patch’ – how you get there, as long as you meet our eligibility criteria, we are agnostic to.”
Dr Lippold is looking for “as many different innovative approaches as we possibly can” with “technically sound” approaches that will be translated forward. However, the prize has a three-stage approach: a concept stage, a preclinical stage, and a Phase I clinical stage. Do head to the website to see where you might fit in here!
“We don’t want to define success because success might come in a package that we didn’t anticipate.”
Why WVC?
As usual, we conclude with a question about the event. Dr Lippold shares that the chance to connect with companies is a “really incredible opportunity”.
“BARDA is here to learn from companies, to meet you where you’re at…we always try to keep our door open.”
It was lovely to meet Dr Lippold at the Congress and to be able to get some insights into this fantastic opportunity; don’t forget to check out the website for more information.
For more conversations with our experts from the Congress in April do make sure you subscribe for weekly updates here!
