Soligenix Announces Two-Year Stability Data for ThermoVax Ebolavirus Vaccines

Soligenix Inc. (NASDAQ: SNGX) has published new data showing extended stability of its ebolavirus vaccines developed with the ThermoVax platform. According to a manuscript accepted by Vaccine, bivalent and trivalent vaccines formulated from Zaire ebolavirus, Sudan ebolavirus, and Marburg marburgvirus antigens retained full potency after two years of storage at temperatures up to 40°C (104°F). This breakthrough in thermostability addresses one of the most significant challenges in global vaccine distribution—the requirement for continuous cold-chain storage.

The implications of this development are substantial for pandemic preparedness and outbreak response in resource-limited settings. Traditional vaccines require strict temperature control during transport and storage, creating logistical barriers and increasing costs in regions without reliable refrigeration infrastructure. The ThermoVax technology eliminates this constraint, enabling vaccines to be stored and transported without refrigeration while maintaining efficacy. This advancement could revolutionize how vaccines are distributed during Ebola and Marburg virus outbreaks in tropical regions where high temperatures typically compromise vaccine stability.

Developed in collaboration with Dr. Axel Lehrer at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, the thermostable vaccines have demonstrated robust immune responses in animal models, with up to 100% protection in non-human primates. The ThermoVax platform enhances protein subunit vaccines, which are considered the gold standard for safety, by incorporating novel stabilization techniques that protect vaccine antigens from heat degradation. This technology represents a significant step forward in biodefense and public health preparedness, particularly for filoviruses that have caused devastating outbreaks in Africa.

The stability data published in Vaccine (https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/vaccine) validates the potential for long-term stockpiling of these vaccines without the need for expensive cold storage facilities. This capability is crucial for creating strategic national and global stockpiles that can be rapidly deployed during emerging outbreaks. The technology's application extends beyond filoviruses, with potential use for other heat-sensitive vaccines, including the company's CiVax COVID-19 vaccine candidate and RiVax ricin toxin vaccine. The research was supported by government funding from agencies including the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, highlighting the public health importance of this advancement.