Epidermal powder immunization against influenza

Epidermal powder immunization (EPI) can efficiently deliver powdered protein vaccines to the epidermis. A phase I clinical trial xi-as conducted to evaluate powdered trivalent influenza vaccine delivered Using the Powdedect ND5.2 delivery system. Subjects received either Fluvirin(R) IM injection (15 mug of each influenza strain), a single EPI vaccination (15 mug of each influenza strain) or two adjacent EPI (total of 30 mug of each influenza strain). Systemic reactogenicity was similar between control and EPI vaccines. Site reactions followkins! EPI were primarily mild and self-limiting. Seroconversions, titer increases and geometric mean titers to ail strains were equivalent or higher in EPI-immunized groups than in controls. Powdered influenza vaccine delivered by EPI is safe and elicits humoral immune responses in humans. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.