Revolutionising global vaccine access: The case for Stablepharma’s fridge-free vaccine technology

Stablepharma is focused on improving global vaccine access with its leading candidate, SPVX02. Here, they discuss the challenges of vaccine development and distribution, and highlight how their platform could transform accessibility through fridge-free vaccines

In an era where vaccine equity remains one of the most critical challenges in global health, technological innovation offers a transformative opportunity. One such innovation, pioneered by Stablepharma, is set to redefine the future of vaccine distribution and access: a platform to reformulate existing vaccines into thermostable, fridge-free versions.

This article addresses three key stakeholder groups – NGOs, governments, and pharmaceutical companies –to consider the broad- reaching impact of Stablepharma’s technology. From shortening R&D timelines and reducing regulatory burdens to dramatically lowering cold chain costs and carbon emissions, the advantages of thermostable vaccines are too significant to ignore.

The cold chain: A barrier to vaccine equity

Traditional vaccines require strict temperature-controlled storage – commonly between 2°C and 8°C, but can go as low as -80°C – throughout their lifecycle. Known as the ‘cold chain,’ this system includes expensive infrastructure such as refrigerated trucks, warehouses, specialised packaging, and backup power systems. For high-income countries, these costs are substantial. For low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), they can be prohibitive.

The consequences are severe:

• Up to 50% of vaccines are wasted globally, many due to cold chain failures. ⁽¹⁾
• Maintaining the cold chain can account for up to 80% of vaccine programme costs in some low-resource settings, according to PATH.
• Remote and rural populations often remain underserved because cold chain logistics cannot reach them reliably. ⁽²⁾
• The global vaccine supply chain can extend over 15,000 kilometres and involve up to eight logistical handovers, each presenting a potential point of failure in maintaining cold chain integrity, according to UNICEF Supply Division.
• CO2 emissions from energy-intensive refrigeration and transportation contribute to environmental degradation. ⁽³⁾

The need for an alternative is clear.

Stablepharma’s solution: Thermostable vaccines

Stablepharma’s proprietary platform, StablevaXTM, offers a revolutionary approach: reformulating existing, approved vaccines into formulations stable at ambient temperatures – including extremes from –20°C to +40°C – for several years. These thermostable vaccines can be stored and transported at ambient temperatures without loss of efficacy, dramatically simplifying logistics and cutting costs. ⁽⁴⁾

Rather than reinventing the wheel with new vaccine candidates, Stablepharma’s technology enables stakeholders to leapfrog much of the traditional R&D and regulatory pathway. This strategy presents a high-impact, low-risk opportunity for accelerating vaccine access on a global scale. ⁽⁵⁾

Stablepharma’s lead candidate, SPVX02 (tetanus-diphtheria), commenced a Phase 1 human trial in April 2025 at the NIHR Clinical Research Facility, Southampton, with results expected by Q4 2025 and commercial deployment targeted by 2027. The platform could be applied to around 60 vaccines, including polio, hepatitis, anthrax, and HPV.

Benefits for NGOs: Reaching the last mile

Non-governmental organisations working in global health are deeply familiar with the difficulties of delivering vaccines to remote, underserved, or crisis-affected populations. Stablepharma’s technology addresses many of their core logistical pain points.

Key benefits:

• Improved reach:
  • Fridge-free vaccines can be delivered without relying on unreliable or non-existent cold chain infrastructure. ⁽⁶⁾
• Reduced waste:
  • Elimination of spoilage due to temperature excursions increases cost-effectiveness and supply reliability. ⁽¹⁾
• Emergency response readiness:
  • In humanitarian settings – conflict zones, refugee camps, natural disasters, and biodefence – thermostable vaccines ensure immediate deployment. ⁽⁷⁾

NGOs can use this innovation to dramatically expand coverage, close immunisation gaps, and ensure every child and adult receives life-saving vaccines, regardless of geography.

Benefits for governments: Cost savings and national resilience

Governments, especially those in LMICs, spend vast sums annually to maintain vaccine cold chains. These funds could be better allocated toward other healthcare or development priorities. Adopting thermostable vaccines offers:

• Cost reduction:
  • Savings on refrigeration, cold storage, specialised packaging, and temperature monitoring systems. ⁽⁸⁾
• Improved efficiency:
  • Easier stockpiling, faster deployment during national immunisation campaigns, and fewer logistical failures. ⁽⁹⁾
• Environmental benefits:
  • The cold-chain contributes 6.7 million kg CO2 emissions annually – equivalent to driving 39 million km. Fridge-free vaccines could significantly shrink this footprint, aiding countries with national climate goals and sustainability agendas. ⁽¹³⁾

Moreover, thermostable vaccines enhance national health security and biodefence, enabling better pandemic preparedness and more resilient health systems overall.

Benefits for pharmaceutical companies: Market expansion and competitive advantage

For pharmaceutical companies, partnering with Stablepharma is not just a humanitarian gesture – it is a compelling commercial opportunity.

• Shorter development timelines:
  • Reformulating existing vaccines using Stablepharma’s platform significantly shortens R&D cycles compared to developing new thermostable vaccines. ⁽⁵⁾
• Streamlined regulatory pathways:
  • Because the underlying vaccine adjuvants and antigens remain unchanged, the regulatory process for Stablepharma’s technology is accelerated, allowing fridge-free versions to get to market faster and more affordably. ⁽¹¹⁾
• New market access:
  • Thermostable vaccines unlock previously inaccessible markets in remote or infrastructure-poor regions. Pharma partners can expand their footprint in global immunisation programs and strengthen public sector relationships.
• Extended patent protection and data exclusivity:
  • Reformulating existing vaccines with StablevaXTM could grant manufacturers new patent protection on the thermostable version, extending market exclusivity and commercial value while enhancing global access.
• Sustainability leadership:
  • Offering thermostable alternatives positions pharmaceutical firms as leaders in green innovation, responding to increasing demand from regulators, investors, and consumers for climate-conscious business practices. ⁽¹⁰⁾

A collaborative path forward

Despite the clear advantages, the transition to thermostable vaccines requires coordinated action. Stablepharma provides the enabling technology, but the momentum must come from stakeholders across the ecosystem.

• Governments should prioritise thermostable vaccines in national procurement strategies and engage in co-development partnerships.
• NGOs can pilot fridge-free vaccines in their field programs, collecting real-world data and driving awareness.
• Pharmaceutical companies and CDMOs should initiate joint ventures or licensing agreements with Stablepharma to bring reformulated vaccines to market swiftly.

The sooner these collaborations begin, the sooner the world can benefit from a more equitable, efficient, and environmentally sustainable vaccine supply.

The time to act is now

Global health is at a crossroads. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed just how fragile and inequitable our vaccine systems can be. But it also demonstrated the power of innovation and cross-sector collaboration. ⁽¹²⁾

Stablepharma’s platform represents a unique convergence of science, strategy, and social impact. The ability to reformulate and stabilise existing vaccines without refrigeration opens the door to truly universal vaccine access – a goal long sought but rarely achieved.

Partnering with Stablepharma is not just an investment in technology; it is an investment in the health, resilience, and future of humanity.

This is a ‘new era’ in vaccine technology.

To learn more about how your organisation can partner with Stablepharma to bring fridge-free vaccines to the world, visit our website or contact us directly.

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