PATH said its scientists and collaborators “have developed formulation methods that protect hepatitis B vaccine from heat and freeze damage, helping to ensure the potency of hepatitis B vaccine in areas of the world where the cold chain is insufficient.” PATH said it published its findings in this month’s issue of Human Vaccines (volume 5, issue 8) in partnership with Arecor and the University of Colorado Denver School of Pharmacy. The article describes a new hepatitis B vaccine formulation exhibiting nine week stability at 55°C and at least six month stability at both 37°C and 45°C. The data indicate that the new hepatitis B vaccine formulation “will be better able to withstand disruption in the cold chain and could potentially be stored at room temperature for a significant part of its shelf life.” Additionally, PATH said its scientists and partners combined the heat-stable hepatitis B vaccine formulation with the freeze-protection technology developed earlier this year. The development of these formulation methods and the research described in both published studies were conducted in conjunction with PATH’s broad project work in vaccine stabilization, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

http://www.path.org/news/pr090803-hepb.php