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Review
. 2023 Dec 31;19(1):2189885.
doi: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2189885. Epub 2023 Apr 27.

The Matrix-M™ adjuvant: A critical component of vaccines for the 21st century

Linda Stertman  1 , Anna-Karin E Palm  1 , Behdad Zarnegar  1 , Berit Carow  1 , Carolina Lunderius Andersson  1 , Sofia E Magnusson  2 , Cecilia Carnrot  2 , Vivek Shinde  3 , Gale Smith  3 , Gregory Glenn  3 , Louis Fries  3 , Karin Lövgren Bengtsson  1
Affiliations
Review

The Matrix-M™ adjuvant: A critical component of vaccines for the 21st century

Linda Stertman et al. Hum Vaccin Immunother. .

Abstract

Matrix-M™ adjuvant is a key component of several novel vaccine candidates. The Matrix-M adjuvant consists of two distinct fractions of saponins purified from the Quillaja saponaria Molina tree, combined with cholesterol and phospholipids to form 40-nm open cage-like nanoparticles, achieving potent adjuvanticity with a favorable safety profile. Matrix-M induces early activation of innate immune cells at the injection site and in the draining lymph nodes. This translates into improved magnitude and quality of the antibody response to the antigen, broadened epitope recognition, and the induction of a Th1-dominant immune response. Matrix-M-adjuvanted vaccines have a favorable safety profile and are well tolerated in clinical trials. In this review, we discuss the latest findings on the mechanisms of action, efficacy, and safety of Matrix-M adjuvant and other saponin-based adjuvants, with a focus on the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) subunit vaccine candidate NVX-CoV2373 developed to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Keywords: COVID-19; Matrix-M™ adjuvant; Quillaja saponin; SARS-CoV-2; adaptive immune response; immunogenicity; innate immune response; mechanism of action; safety; vaccine.

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Conflict of interest statement

KLB, LS, BC, AKP, BZ, SM, CC, and CLA are current employees of Novavax AB. GG, VS, and GS are current employees of Novavax, Inc. LF is a contractor to Novavax, Inc.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Proposed Matrix-M™ adjuvant mechanism of action.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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