August 5, 2026

Phase 1 results from ‘fridge-free’ tetanus-diphtheria vaccine

Scientists are publishing phase 1 results from a trial of the world’s first fridge-free vaccine – a tetanus-diphtheria vaccine, developed to be able to be stored at temperatures of up to 30°C rather than kept in the fridge as vaccines usually are.

Around half of vaccines are wasted globally each year because of temperature changes during storage and transport. If fridge-free vaccines could be developed they could have the potential to reduce dependence on refrigeration and therefore wastage, and could improve access to vaccination in isolated communities globally as well as reducing energy used and emissions generated by refrigeration.

The new study is at phase 1, looking at safety and immune response in 60 healthy adult volunteers.  The trial compares the new ‘fridge-free’ tetanus-diphtheria vaccine candidate, SPVX02, with licensed tetanus-diphtheria vaccines.

SPVX02 was developed by UK-based biotech company Stablepharma. The trial took place in the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Facility at University Hospital Southampton.

The study was published in eClinicalMedicine.

Dial in to this briefing to hear from authors of the paper discuss their results.

Speakers will include:

Prof Saul Faust, Director of the NIHR Clinical Research Facility in Southampton; and Professor of Paediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Southampton; and lead author of the study

Dr Bruce Roser, Founder of StablePharma Ltd; and author of the study

Prof Sir Jonathan Van-Tam, on the Advisory Board of StablePharma Ltd; and author of the study

This Briefing was accompanied by an SMC Roundup of comments.