Doctor invents ‘vaccine pill’ that could spell end of many jabs
LONDON: A new ‘vaccine pill’ invented by an academic is only a few years away from market and could do away with a jab to treat many common diseases.
Dr Nazim Nassar of Charles Darwin University said his patented gel pill only cost about $500 to develop despite having gone through hundreds of prototypes, giving an indication of how cheap it can be produced at mass.
With interest from major pharmaceutical players, he said it could be used to deliver common treatments like insulin and the flu shot to complex anti-cancer drugs.
“If we can get this commercialised, it will ultimately reduce the cost of medicines,” Dr Nassar told NT News.
Unlike conventional pills, the one designed by Dr Nassar and his RMIT colleague Professor Stefan Kasapis only begins to break apart at 40C, reducing the need for refrigeration.
It is also acid-resistant and made from natural proteins rather than synthetics, meaning it will bypass the stomach and go straight to the intestine where it can be better absorbed with fewer side effects.
“If you take, for example, arthritis injections, one per month costs the government over $1500, mainly because of the refrigeration and freight,” Dr Nassar said.
“That could be reduced dramatically, probably to just tens of dollars, so the health system will benefit and we can invest that money elsewhere, building infrastructure and developing better technology.
“As a pharmacist, I’ve also seen people say no to medication because it requires them to have an injection in their eye or their genital region for example, which would be different if they could take a pill.
“There’s medical waste as well – we give about 12 to 13 million flu shots every year, and all of those syringes need to go back to the drug company for incineration, which creates greenhouse gas. So we’re looking at a massive green benefits.”
Dr Nassar is also a cancer researcher and he made headlines in February for discovering that a cannabis extract killed melanoma cells.
The Israeli ex-pat moved to Australia in the mid-1990s to practice pharmacy and said he is motivated by the desire to “leave a legacy”.
“The best thing is when you can help somebody and put a smile on their face, that’s what motivates me,” Dr Nassar said.
Dr Nassar and Professor Kasapis are currently awaiting patent approval in the US and the pill will then undergo further biological trials.
