A replacement for needles was being searched since long and as per a recent report, a group of researchers at the University of Queensland is finally a step closer to such a development.

It has been found that the group has signed a deal with Merck, which is an international vaccine manufacturer. The same legalizes the manufacture of a painless skin patch, which has been dubbed as Nanopatch.

As per the report, the commercialization of the new technology is being done by Vaxxas, which was formed with an aim to enhance the performance of vaccines in August 2011 at the university. Now, the partnership means that the international distributor of Gardasil HPV vaccine, Merck, founded by Australia's Professor Ian Frazer, would initially fund Vaxxas.

The aim is to test the innovation with a vaccine. Nearly $15 million was raised by Vaxxas the previous year and the same was spent on the technology's commercialization. "This is an essential step for Vaxxas because for the first time we have a partnership with one of the world's largest vaccine manufacturers", avowed Professor Mark Kendall.

It is being said that Nanopatch uses less vaccine by 100 folds and is smaller in size than a postage stamp.