News & Trends - Pharmaceuticals
Ending the challenge of temperature-dependent vaccines

Pharma News: A novel technique has been developed that addresses the challenge of transporting temperature-dependent vaccines, which researchers at Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, hope may increase access in rural and remote communities in Australia and developing countries.
The World Health Organisation estimates that at least 50% of vaccines are wasted globally each year, with a lack of facilities and temperature control the major cause.
Recently published in Acta Biomaterialia, CSIRO researchers encapsulated live virus vaccines with a dissolvable crystalline material called MOFs (metal organic frameworks), which protected the integrity of the vaccines for up to 12 weeks and at temperatures as high as 37 degrees Celsius. Without refrigeration the vaccines would otherwise last only a few days.
CSIRO scientist and immunologist, Dr Daniel Layton, said the breakthrough science would now focus on proving the approach for other animal and human vaccines, including mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
“Vaccination is undoubtedly one of the most effective medical interventions, saving millions of lives each year, however delivering vaccines, particularly to developing countries, is challenging because they often lack the cold storage supply chains required to keep the vaccine viable,” Dr Layton said.
“Live virus vaccines are extremely effective, but their complex composition makes them susceptible to high temperatures, and a universal stabilisation technique has not been found.
“This breakthrough has the potential to enable more affordable and equitable access to vaccines across the world.”
You may also like: Medicines Australia submission calls for immediate change of discount rate
The research focused on two different types of live viruses as proofs of concept, a Newcastle Disease vaccine designed to protect poultry and a strain of Influenza A.
When MOFs were formed around the vaccines they helped protect the vaccine molecules from heat stress. A solution was then used that dissolved the MOF for administration of the vaccine.
CSIRO senior scientist Dr Cara Doherty said MOFs were the perfect material for protecting vaccines from temperature variations.
“MOFs are a porous crystalline material that can grow around the vaccine to form a scaffold that protects against temperature variations,” Dr Doherty said.
“MOFs work similarly to a scaffold you might put around your house, once you remove the scaffold, your house remains – which is what happens when we dissolve the MOFs in a vaccine.”
CSIRO researcher and author of the paper, Dr Ruhani Singh, said the technique was cost-effective and scalable.
“There are two common approaches to protecting vaccines from heat. You can modify the vaccine, which is complex and laborious and at high temperatures may still only last less than a week, or you can use other stabilising agents which pose challenges including how to realistically scale up the solution.
“This world-first approach of stabilising a vaccine with MOFs is simple, rapid, and scalable because it takes one-step.”
News & Trends - Pharmaceuticals

Clinicians call for closer monitoring of patients post CAR T therapy
Australian clinicians are raising questions about whether cancer patients need closer monitoring after receiving CAR T-cell therapy. A Peter MacCallum […]
MoreNews & Trends - MedTech & Diagnostics

Next-gen surgical mesh to fill critical gap after regulatory ban
Next-generation urogynaecological surgical mesh implants are on the horizon for women suffering from pelvic organ prolapse (POP). This development aims […]
MoreNews & Trends - Pharmaceuticals

Contraceptive lawsuit against Bayer fails
The Victorian Supreme Court has dismissed a class action against Bayer for an allegedly defective contraceptive device. Justice Andrew Keogh […]
MoreNews & Trends - Pharmaceuticals

NSW Government ignored warnings since 2018: Mental health system unravels as psychiatrists quit en masse
The New South Wales Labor government’s plan to “redesign” the state’s mental health system, while excluding psychiatrists, has sparked intense […]
More