Key facts
- UK scientists have successfully trialled a 'fridge-free' vaccine technology in patients for the first time.
- The new technology converts liquid vaccines into a dry powder using trehalose sugar, inspired by resurrection plants.
- This dry powder vaccine can be stored at room temperature for a year before being mixed with water and injected.
- Early stage studies showed equivalent immune responses to conventional vaccines, with the new version being safe and well tolerated.
- A larger trial involving 160 people is scheduled to begin in the coming months.
- The research aims to meet the WHO goal of vaccines surviving at 30C and 75% relative humidity.
UK scientists have successfully trialled a new 'fridge-free' vaccine technology in patients for the first time, a development that could significantly reduce global vaccine wastage. The innovation, inspired by the resilience of resurrection plants, transforms liquid vaccines into a stable dry powder that can be stored at room temperature for up to a year before reconstitution.
Currently, a substantial portion of vaccines, estimated at around half globally, are wasted due to issues with the 'cold chain' – the strict temperature control required during storage and transportation. This challenge is particularly acute in remote or resource-limited regions where refrigeration is scarce and electricity unreliable. The new technology, developed by Stablepharma, uses a sugar called trehalose, similar to that found in resurrection plants, to protect the vaccine's vital components when dried.
Early-stage clinical trials involving 60 volunteers demonstrated that the 'fridge-free' tetanus-diphtheria vaccine provided immune responses equivalent to its conventionally stored counterpart, while also proving safe and well-tolerated. Professor Saul Faust, director of the NIHR Clinical Research Facility in Southampton, highlighted the potential to remove cold chain dependence, reduce wastage, and improve access to vaccines.
A larger trial with 160 participants is slated to commence in the coming months. This research is aligned with the World Health Organization's goal for vaccines to remain viable at 30°C and 75% relative humidity. Preliminary data also suggests the vaccine components can withstand temperature cycling between -20°C and +40°C, indicating robustness for transport in varying conditions.
Experts like Sir Jonathan Van-Tam, former deputy chief medical officer for England, who has experience in remote field clinics, noted the practical benefits for immunisation programmes. While the current approach is not suitable for mRNA vaccines, it could be adapted for many other existing vaccines and potentially some medicines like monoclonal antibodies that require refrigeration. Dr Bruce Roser, founder of Stablepharma, described the reliable, fridge-free vaccines as a potential 'game-changer for global health', enabling life-saving vaccines to reach millions more people and making immunisation programmes more sustainable and equitable.