Norwood Abbey (ASX:NAL) has initiated animal studies for the use of its needle-free injection device for delivering virosomes, potent carriers of antigens for vaccination.

The new Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) studies will use the needle-free injectable prototype already developed through the Norwood-MIT research program.

The program's primary aim is to achieve an adequate immune response with a substantially reduced amount of active vaccine material. If shown that less active material is required - and it is possible that the amount may be as little as 1 - 5 per cent of what is currently required - there could be a significant cost reduction per procedure and an alleviation of manufacturing bottlenecks in pandemic situations, such as influenza.

The Norwood-MIT needle-free device delivers virosomes to antigen-presenting cells under the skin, cells which form the first part of the immune system. Delivery through the skin may therefore improve the immune outcome compared with more common techniques, such as intra-muscular injections.

The animal studies at MIT complement the virosomal studies being undertaken by Virosome Biologicals, a company which Norwood Immunology recently acquired an option to purchase.

"The new studies at MIT provide Norwood with a further potential means of participating in the vaccine arena," said Norwood Abbey's chairman Peter Hansen in a statement. "It is a further application of the needle-free technology, which Norwood sees as an important part of its devices activities."