MANCHESTER, England, September 12 /PRNewswire/ --



- New Research Finds Micro-Needles to be a Safe Alternative.

New research presented at the British Pharmaceutical Conference (BPC) in
Manchester shows that micro-needles may be a safer and less painful method
for delivering vaccines and other medicines traditionally administered using
a hypodermic syringe.

The micro-needles are designed to avoid impacting pain receptors and
blood vessels.

The Gene Delivery Research Group based at the Welsh School of Pharmacy at
Cardiff University and clinicians at Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust established
that healthy volunteers reported less pain and sensation when they were
injected using an array of micro-needles than when they were injected with a
hypodermic syringe. PhD researcher Mohammed Inaam-ul Haq said: "Micro-needles
provide a method for delivering medicines into and through skin and our pilot
study has shown that volunteers report significantly less pain with a
micro-needle."

As part of the research, funded by The British Skin Foundation,
volunteers received an injection by one of two types of micro-needle (of two
different micro-needle lengths), or a 25-guage (the standard or commonly used
size) hypodermic needle and syringe into their buttock. Volunteers were asked
to complete a pain scale assessment and describe the injection sensation to
gauge the impact of the different injection methods. The hypodermic needle
was up to five times more painful than the micro-needles.

Moreover, analysis of how quickly skin repaired after the injections
showed that the injection site healed quicker following micro-needle
penetration, than when the skin was punctured with the hypodermic needle.

Dr James Birchall, Senior Lecturer at the Welsh School of Pharmacy, said:
"Micro-needles are designed specifically to penetrate the outer layer of the
skin without impacting on pain receptors and blood vessels. Our pilot study
confirms that these devices are likely to be well received by patients and
clinicians."

The British Pharmaceutical Conference Press Office (September 10, 11 and
12 only)

Tel: +44-(0)161-839-9170

Tel: +44-(0)161-839-9173

Tel: +44-(0)161-839-9164

Tel: +44-(0)161-832-2023

Tel: +44-(0)161-832-1090

Mobile: +44-(0)7739-533-658

ISDN: +44-(0)161-833-4751

Notes to Editors

The British Pharmaceutical Conference - entitled "The medicines maze:
balancing risks and benefits" - takes place from 10th to 12th September,
2007, at Manchester Central (formerly Manchester International Convention
Centre). The theme of BPC 2007 is reflected throughout the programme, with
keynote speeches and workshops addressing crucial technical and professional
issues that are facing pharmacy today. The conference will showcase the
latest developments in pharmaceutical science and practice research and
include discussion and debate led by expert speakers.