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Vaccine adjuvants (here Freund's Adjuvants)

Beside of the development of new vaccines the co-development of new  adjuvants plays an important role in the development of new vaccines. Adjuvants have the task of enhancing the immune response and prolonging its duration of action. With the use of subunit or attenuated vaccines, the purpose of which is, among other things, to reduce toxic side effects caused by the antigen, potent adjuvants are required.

These have a transport and protective function for the antigens and simulate a sterile infection in the first step. This initially puts the immune system in an alarm position. Various hydrocarbon oils are used in the veterinary and human sector (mineral oil-based (white oils), synthetic or plant-based (e.g. squalene or squalane). 

However, some of the classic mineral oil-based products themselves contain critical ingredients such as pristane, phytane, steranes or hopanes, which can cause adverse effects under certain circumstances. These substances can also be found stored in the human body, as they can also be absorbed via the food chain, cosmetics or medicines. 

Here, selected synthetic hydrocarbons offer the advantage that they are free of such ingredients and can be easily metabolised and biodegraded in the environment due to their advantageous chemical structure. 

Due to the chemical structure (degree and position of branching) and chain length of the synthetic hydrocarbon oil, the onset and duration of the immune reaction can be influenced. 

It is also important to have an optimised adjuvant that shows good tissue compatibility and can be easily eliminated from the injection site for use in therapeutic vaccinations, some of which have to be given repeatedly. Residues can be significantly reduced here.

Hydrocarbon oil adjuvants are generally classified as non-immunomodulating excipients. They are therefore also subject to regulatory requirements that qualify them for use in pharmaceutical products.