Matrix-M

Matrix-M is a vaccine adjuvant, a substance that is added to various vaccines to stimulate the immune response.[1][2][3] It was patented in 2020 by Novavax[4] and is composed of nanoparticles from saponins extracted from Quillaja saponaria (soapbark) trees, cholesterol, and phospholipids.[5][6][7] It is an immune stimulating complex (ISCOM), which are nanospheres formed when saponin is mixed with two types of fats.[8]

Adjuvants increase the body's immune response to a vaccine by creating higher levels of antibodies.[9] They can either enhance, modulate, and/or prolong the body's immune response, reducing the number of vaccinations needed for immunization.[10]

The Matrix-M adjuvant is used in a number of vaccine candidates, including the malaria vaccine R21/Matrix-M,[1][11] influenza vaccines,[2] and in the approved Novavax COVID-19 vaccine.[5][12] In 2021, the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine candidate showed a 72% in sites with seasonal implementation and 67% in sites with age-based implementation in the modified per-protocol analysis. /> In influenza vaccine candidates, Matrix-M was shown to offer cross-protection against multiple strains of influenza.[12][2][3]

Novavax is also testing a combined flu and COVID-19 vaccine candidate with Matrix-M.[13]

  1. ^ a b Datoo, Mehreen S.; Natama, Magloire H.; Somé, Athanase; Traoré, Ousmane; Rouamba, Toussaint; Bellamy, Duncan; Yameogo, Prisca; Valia, Daniel; Tegneri, Moubarak; Ouedraogo, Florence; Soma, Rachidatou (2021-05-15). "Efficacy of a low-dose candidate malaria vaccine, R21 in adjuvant Matrix-M, with seasonal administration to children in Burkina Faso: a randomised controlled trial". The Lancet. 397 (10287): 1809–1818. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00943-0. ISSN 0140-6736. PMC 8121760. PMID 33964223.
  2. ^ a b c Magnusson, Sofia E.; Reimer, Jenny M.; Karlsson, Karin H.; Lilja, Lena; Bengtsson, Karin Lövgren; Stertman, Linda (2013-03-25). "Immune enhancing properties of the novel Matrix-M adjuvant leads to potentiated immune responses to an influenza vaccine in mice". Vaccine. 31 (13): 1725–1733. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.01.039. ISSN 0264-410X. PMID 23384754.
  3. ^ a b "NanoFlu is on the FDA's Vaccine Fast-Track". www.precisionvaccinations.com. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  4. ^ "US Patent for Highly efficient influenza matrix (M1) proteins Patent (Patent # 10,544,399 issued January 28, 2020) - Justia Patents Search". patents.justia.com. Retrieved 2022-07-21.
  5. ^ a b Satyanarayana, Megha (2021-08-17). "A new, powerful malaria vaccine may be on the horizon". cen.acs.org. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  6. ^ "Is Old Vaccine Technology the Key to Hesitancy?". www.medpagetoday.com. 2021-06-17. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  7. ^ King2021-02-04T14:10:00+00:00, Anthony. "Covid vaccination efforts bolstered by trial results from J&J and Novavax". Chemistry World. Retrieved 2021-10-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Milicic, Anita (24 March 2021). "Adjuvants: the unsung heroes of vaccines". The Conversation. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  9. ^ "Moths and tree bark: How the Novavax vaccine works". www.nebraskamed.com. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  10. ^ Bonam, Srinivasa Reddy; Partidos, Charalambos D.; Halmuthur, Sampath Kumar M.; Muller, Sylviane (September 2017). "An Overview of Novel Adjuvants Designed for Improving Vaccine Efficacy". Trends in Pharmacological Sciences. 38 (9): 771–793. doi:10.1016/j.tips.2017.06.002. ISSN 1873-3735. PMID 28668223. S2CID 205409092.
  11. ^ "Malaria vaccine becomes first to achieve WHO-specified 75 percent efficacy goal". ScienceDaily. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  12. ^ a b Borrell, Brendan (2020-10-21). "The Tree That Could Help Stop the Pandemic". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2021-10-26.
  13. ^ Tribble, Sarah Jane (2021-07-20). "Novavax's effort to vaccinate the world, from zero to not quite warp speed". Quartz. Retrieved 2023-04-13.