Vaxess Technologies is pioneering new ways to deliver anti-obesity medications that could dramatically improve access and adherence. By engaging patients early in development, Vaxess is ensuring that its microneedle patch platform is designed not just for clinical efficacy but for everyday usability and appeal. We spoke with CEO Rachel Sha about how patient input is shaping their approach—and why direct engagement through Evidation’s community of engaged individuals is so valuable to the future of clinical development and commercialization.
Q: How is Vaxess’ approach to the delivery of anti-obesity medications (AOM’s) unique?
Rachel: Today's GLP-1 therapies require self-injections that are uncomfortable, expensive to ship and store, and difficult for many patients to sustain long-term. The industry is actively working toward easier delivery methods, including oral formulations and alternative technologies.
Vaxess has developed a dissolvable microarray patch, which adheres to your skin, delivering the full therapeutic dose in minutes without needles. The patch is stable at room temperature, eliminating cold-chain logistics and simplifying distribution, particularly in resource-limited settings.
Early preclinical data shows bioavailability comparable to injected semaglutide, and recent human-factors studies demonstrate strong patient preference for the patch format. This technology represents a practical step toward improving patient experience while achieving comparable efficacy, and broadening access to GLP-1 therapies. For biopharma, improved experience and patient access will mean improved adherence.
Q: How is Vaxess using direct patient feedback to shape its product design and development?
Rachel: We are engaging individuals in human factors studies to evaluate how people interact with our microneedle patch platform, in particular, how people use the applicator—how it feels, how intuitive it is, and whether they would prefer it to existing options.
We recently completed a three-week human factors study where participants overwhelmingly preferred the patch to injections—95% chose the patch after using it weekly. That kind of insight doesn't just validate our design choices; it provides clear, data-driven direction on how to refine usability and communicate the product's benefits.
By capturing these real-world perspectives early, we can anticipate and address potential barriers before they emerge in clinical trials. That’s been a game-changer for how we approach product development.
Q: How do patient insights translate into measurable differences, like smoother trial execution or stronger real-world uptake?
Rachel: These insights have been incredibly important in helping us understand the value proposition of our technology. Not just for patients, but also for investors and strategic partners. Through our collaboration with Evidation, we’ve seen how significantly the patient experience influences willingness to try a product and maintain long-term adherence.
While we haven’t yet reached the clinic with this product, early feedback is already shaping how we define our target product profile and differentiation in a competitive market. Grounding development in what patients actually value—convenience, comfort, control and cost—positions us for smoother trial execution and, ultimately, stronger adoption in the real world
Q: What have you learned from engaging patients directly that you might not have uncovered through traditional research approaches?
Rachel: Traditional research often tells you what people do, but not why they do it. Engaging patients directly, especially at scale through Evidation’s Community, helps us understand the why by continuously capturing real-world feedback on experience, motivation, and behavior. We can see not only behaviors but also the motivations and context behind them: what drives adherence, what creates frustration, and what barriers prevent people from staying on treatment.
In our work on anti-obesity medications, this kind of input has helped us better understand preferences around dosing, delivery method, and even perceptions of stigma and convenience. Those insights are invaluable when designing a product intended for broad, long-term use. They ensure we’re not just developing something that works clinically, but something that truly fits into people’s lives.
Q: Why is it so important for life sciences companies to integrate patient perspectives early in clinical development?
Rachel: Most organizations today recognize the importance of patient input, but what we’re seeing now is a shift from acknowledging its importance to truly operationalizing it. People are more informed and empowered than ever. Many people make decisions about treatments, devices, and care pathways based on their own research, experiences, and preferences, not just what they hear from their doctor. For example, when we looked at individuals using GLP-1s who transitioned from standard dosing to microdosing, most said they made that change independently rather than with their clinician. That kind of behavior shows just how much ownership patients now have over their care. In a world where patients will increasingly have more choice, how they experience their treatment will affect how motivated they are to stay on treatment over time.
When companies engage patients early and continuously, they gain a clearer understanding of what people value, where they face friction, and what drives or undermines adherence. Those insights can shape everything from target product profiles to endpoint selection and trial design. This kind of data-driven, patient-informed development helps the entire product development process move faster, with fewer surprises in the clinic and better alignment with what people will actually use in the real world.
Looking Ahead
Vaxess Technologies is demonstrating how early, direct engagement with patients can transform the path from discovery to market. By combining innovative delivery technologies with real-world insights from Evidation's community, Vaxess is setting a new standard for patient-centered development, one that aligns innovation with everyday experience from the very start.
To learn how Evidation can help support your product development and commercialization efforts, contact us here.