Researchers in the United Kingdom have completed initial human trials of a vaccine formulation that can be stored at room temperature without refrigeration, marking the first clinical testing of this technology in patients. The trial involved 60 volunteers who received a tetanus-diphtheria vaccine that had been converted into a dry powder and maintained at room temperature for a year before being reconstituted with water for injection.
The development addresses a significant global health challenge, as the World Health Organization estimates that roughly half of all vaccines produced annually are wasted. While multiple factors contribute to vaccine loss, including transport damage and expired doses, failures in temperature-controlled storage and transportation systems—known as the “cold chain”—represent a major cause. This problem is particularly acute in remote and impoverished regions where reliable electricity and refrigeration infrastructure are limited, as well as in conflict zones.
The new stabilization method draws inspiration from resurrection plants, which survive droughts by producing large quantities of a sugar compound called trehalose that protects cellular structures. Researchers applied this principle by drying vaccines with trehalose to preserve their effectiveness at ambient temperatures. According to Prof Saul Faust of the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research, the trial demonstrated that the stabilized vaccine produced immune responses equivalent to conventional formulations while proving safe and well tolerated in early-stage studies.
Additional data indicates the vaccine components remain viable after exposure to temperature fluctuations between -20 degrees Celsius and +40 degrees Celsius, suggesting potential resilience during real-world transport scenarios. A larger trial involving 160 participants is scheduled to begin in the coming months. Because the original vaccine is already approved and licensed, this expanded study can serve as the final research phase without requiring the extensive trials typically needed for novel vaccines.
Experts have expressed optimism about the technology’s potential while noting areas requiring further investigation, including performance across larger and more ethnically diverse populations and stability under repeated temperature cycling. The findings were published in eClinicalMedicine, part of the Lancet journal group.
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