Boost your vaccine’s immune response with the globally accepted human vaccine-quality benchmark
What is QS-21?
It’s a fraction of triterpenoid saponins purified from bark extracts of the Quillaja saponaria Molina, an evergreen tree native to central Chile, being advantageously used in the formulation of adjuvants for prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines.
Advantages of a sustainable sourcing
- It is a natural ingredient for vaccine formulation.
- Lower antigen requirements, helping to potentiate weaker antigens.
- Enhances duration and onset of immune response.
- Augments antibody and helper/cytotoxic T-cell responses; when formulated with antigens, it triggers a balanced immune response.
- Can be used independently or combined with other adjuvants: for example, AS01 and AS02 adjuvants from GSK; QS-21 + 3-O-desacyl-4’-monophosphoryl lipid A [MPL].
- Because of its amphipathic properties, QS-21 is likely to stay in close proximity to the antigen, and it is suitable for a wide range of formulations with antigens and/or other adjuvants.
Pharmaceutical Applications
Quality and consistency guaranteed
We choose the best QS-21 bark material to purify through our automated selection processes.
It’s been developed as a process of production with having a higher yield (0.08% as g of pure QS-21/ g processed bark) than previously reported (< 0.001%); if required, the production would be scaled to hundreds of grams in the medium-term (2020 onwards).
Based on the afforementioned, the process developed the production of GMP QS-21 through an European CMO (available from 2019).
How is produced QS-21?
The Quillaja tree is preserved in this process
From a raw extract of Quillaja bark
Isolation of QS-21
How is produced QS-21?
A completely sustainable process that begins with the harvest
The Quillaja tree is preserved in this process
The Quillaja tree is preserved in this process; its biomass – wood, bark, leaves and roots – can be used to produce a range of products for various industries. 
From a raw extract of Quillaja bark
Rich precursor (>70% on dry basis) is produced via the selective removal of non-saponin components (low and high molecular weight impurities). 
Isolation of QS-21
Achieved through chromatographic purification. Validation and efficacy
Summary of clinical trials involving QS-21 as an adjuvant*
- QS-21 (pure or combined with other saponins) is present in the first Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine Arexvy, the malaria vaccine Mosquirix, the herpes zoster vaccine Shingrix and the first COVID-19 subunit authorized nanoparticle vaccine,12 NVX-CoV2373,13–17.
- QS-21 is already in 26 vaccines candidates in Phase 3 clinical trials, including areas of oncology, infectious diseases and Alzheimer’s.
- Testing of vaccines containing QS-21 (alone or combined with other adjuvants): 281 clinical studies in humans (involving more than 390,000 subjects) have been undertaken.
- Malaria has been the most studied case, in both the number of studies conducted as well as in number of subjects involved (259,000).
- Current results demonstrate the efficacy of vaccines adjuvanted with QS-21 to boost immune response.
Approved by FDA in combination with MPL, Oct. 2017
Availability
Sustainable supply of raw material of Quillay for years to come
Our commitment is to conserve native forests through our innovative and sustainable forestry management model which reduces the impact on and revitalizes forests, contributing to their adaptation to climate change.
We seek to improve the management of the supply chain and work alongside all types of owners.
We are pioneers in the development of Quillay plantations of selected plants with increased contents of QS-21. (Patent pending.)
Aligned with the laws for the promotion and recovery of native forests, and we wish to contribute with techniques and development that allow the recovery and protection of natural resources.
Certificated with the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council®) seal in our biomass supply operation.
We develop and maintain lines of research focused on the requirements of Quillay as a crop, steadily advancing in the domestication process of the species and its intimate relationship with the ecosystem. Our efforts are aimed to reduce the strain on native forests.
Contact us
Do you want to receive more information or be contacted by us?
Write us an e-mail via the form, or just send us a direct email at info@desertking.com.
Boost your Vaccine’s Immune Response with the world’s experts of scientific and sustainable solutions
What is QS-21?
It’s a fraction of triterpenoid saponins purified from bark extracts of the Quillaja saponaria Molina, an evergreen tree native to central Chile, being advantageously used in the formulation of adjuvants for prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines.
Advantages of a sustainable sourcing
- It is a natural ingredient for vaccine formulation.
- Lower antigen requirements, helping to potentiate weaker antigens.
- Enhances duration and onset of immune response.
- Augments antibody and helper/cytotoxic T-cell responses; when formulated with antigens, it triggers a balanced immune response.
- Can be used independently or combined with other adjuvants: for example, AS01 and AS02 adjuvants from GSK; QS-21 + 3-O-desacyl-4’-monophosphoryl lipid A [MPL].
- Because of its amphipathic properties, QS-21 is likely to stay in close proximity to the antigen, and it is suitable for a wide range of formulations with antigens and/or other adjuvants.
Pharmaceutical Applications
Quality and consistency guaranteed
We choose the best QS-21 bark material to purify through our automated selection processes.
It’s been developed as a process of production with having a higher yield (0.08% as g of pure QS-21/ g processed bark) than previously reported (< 0.001%); if required, the production would be scaled to hundreds of grams in the medium-term (2020 onwards).
Based on the afforementioned, the process developed the production of GMP QS-21 through an European CMO (available from 2019).
How is produced QS-21?
The Quillaja tree is preserved in this process
From a raw extract of Quillaja bark
Isolation of QS-21
How is produced QS-21?
A completely sustainable process that begins with the harvest
The Quillaja tree is preserved in this process
The Quillaja tree is preserved in this process; its biomass – wood, bark, leaves and roots – can be used to produce a range of products for various industries. From a raw extract of Quillaja bark
Rich precursor (>70% on dry basis) is produced via the selective removal of non-saponin components (low and high molecular weight impurities). Isolation of QS-21
Achieved through chromatographic purification. Validation and efficacy
Summary of clinical trials involving QS-21 as an adjuvant*
- QS-21 (pure or combined with other saponins) is present in the first Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine Arexvy, the malaria vaccine Mosquirix, the herpes zoster vaccine Shingrix and the first COVID-19 subunit authorized nanoparticle vaccine,12 NVX-CoV2373,13–17.
- QS-21 is already in 26 vaccines candidates in Phase 3 clinical trials, including areas of oncology, infectious diseases and Alzheimer’s.
- Testing of vaccines containing QS-21 (alone or combined with other adjuvants): 281 clinical studies in humans (involving more than 390,000 subjects) have been undertaken.
- Malaria has been the most studied case, in both the number of studies conducted as well as in number of subjects involved (259,000).
- Current results demonstrate the efficacy of vaccines adjuvanted with QS-21 to boost immune response.
Approved by FDA in combination with MPL, Oct. 2017
Availability
Sustainable supply of raw material of Quillay for years to come
Our commitment is to conserve native forests through our innovative and sustainable forestry management model which reduces the impact on and revitalizes forests, contributing to their adaptation to climate change.
We seek to improve the management of the supply chain and work alongside all types of owners.
We are pioneers in the development of Quillay plantations of selected plants with increased contents of QS-21. (Patent pending.)
Aligned with the laws for the promotion and recovery of native forests, and we wish to contribute with techniques and development that allow the recovery and protection of natural resources.
Certificated with the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council®) seal in our biomass supply operation.
We develop and maintain lines of research focused on the requirements of Quillay as a crop, steadily advancing in the domestication process of the species and its intimate relationship with the ecosystem. Our efforts are aimed to reduce the strain on native forests.
Contact us
Do you want to receive more information or be contacted by us?
Write us an e-mail via the form, or just send us a direct email at info@desertking.com.