Scientific collaboration of Zipcode Bio and Micron Biomedical is spotlighted at a celebration of the federal government's $50 million Patch Forward Prize, one of the largest incentive prizes to stimulate product and technology development that is vital to public health
January 13, 2025 | Boston, MA — Zipcode Bio, a biotechnology company focusing on next-gen RNA medicines and co-founded by 2023 Nobel laureate award winner Dr. Drew Weissman and CEO Dr. Jason Zhang, announced today that Micron Biomedical, partnered with Zipcode Bio, won the concept stage prize of Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) Patch Forward competition. The award was presented at an event during the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco. The $2 million prize is intended for Micron and Zipcode Bio to co-develop needle-free versions of mRNA based broadly-protecting influenza vaccines.
The Patch Forward Prize is one of the largest incentive prizes in U.S. federal government history. It is part of Project NextGen, a $5 billion initiative dedicated to advancing next-generation vaccines and treatments. This award emphasizes the potential of public-private collaborations to redefine the future of healthcare.
“The prize represents a critical step forward in advancing science with the potential to significantly reduce the global impact of influenza. By combining Zipcode Bio’s broadly protective influenza vaccine, which may allow for less frequent updates, with Micron Biomedical’s microarray technology, we aim to dramatically increase vaccination rates through a painless and far more convenient option,” said Dr. Jason Zhang, Co-Founder and CEO, Zipcode Bio.
“We're in a pivotal moment where we have an opportunity to significantly increase our preparedness against infectious outbreaks - particularly in improving how mRNA vaccines are formulated, stored, transported and administered - so that we can protect more people more quickly and prevent another pandemic,” said Steven Damon, CEO of Micron Biomedical. “Zipcode Bio is developing an incredibly exciting next-generation vaccine platform that has the potential to broadly protect against influenza infections and we are thrilled to build on our efforts to combine Zipcode Bio’s innovative RNA science with Micron Biomedical’s unique needle-free microarray technology that can overcome infrastructure challenges related to cold chain, clinician shortages, needle phobia, sharps waste requirements and much more.
About Zipcode Bio
Zipcode Bio is a U.S. biotechnology company focused on next-generation nucleic acid therapeutics. Co-founded by Dr. Jason Zhang and Dr. Drew Weissman—the 2023 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine for his pioneering work on mRNA vaccines—the company applies cutting-edge RNA expertise to address critical unmet medical needs. Zipcode Bio's proprietary SHARP™ technology delivers nucleic acid therapeutics efficiently to the spleen and lungs. This platform offers advantages over traditional lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), including easier production, improved efficacy, and better safety. The company also uses advanced machine learning tools, with research published in Nature Machine Intelligence, to enhance therapeutic design. With a team dedicated to innovation and precision, Zipcode Bio is developing groundbreaking therapeutics to improve healthcare and shape the future of medicine.
For more information visit www.zipcodebio.com.