At CD BioSciences, we recognise that developing effective vaccines against human herpesviruses (HHVs) presents unique scientific and translational challenges. Our Adjuvant & Formulation Screening service is designed specifically for clients engaged in HHV vaccine programmes (prophylactic or therapeutic), working in the pre-clinical or research phase. We partner with you to optimise antigen-adjuvant pairings, delivery formulations, and immunogenicity read-outs—providing a robust foundation for advancing to in vivo immunogenicity and efficacy studies, while aligning with rigorous scientific and regulatory expectations.
Why Adjuvant & Formulation Screening Matters for HHV Vaccines
Viruses of the herpesvirus family (Herpesviridae) are characterised by lifelong latent infection, periodic reactivation and complex immune-evasion mechanisms.
While significant progress has been made in vaccine science, HHVs remain largely refractory to vaccine approaches: for example, no licensed vaccines currently exist for Herpes simplex virus 1/Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-1/2), Epstein‑Barr virus (EBV) or Kaposi's sarcoma‑associated herpesvirus (KSHV/HHV-8).
One key technical hurdle lies in stimulating sufficiently potent and durable immune responses—both humoral and cell-mediated (especially T-cell and tissue‐resident memory responses)—so as to overcome viral latency reservoirs, immune escape and shedding. In this context, the choice of adjuvant and the formulation matrix (delivery vehicle, excipients, route of administration, dose regimen) become critical. As highlighted in recent reviews, recombinant subunit vaccines (commonly used for HHVs) "require adjuvants to stimulate the innate immune system… to lead the humoral response and proper inoculation".
Hence, for a research-stage vaccine candidate targeting HHVs, rigorous adjuvant and formulation screening is not optional — it is foundational for demonstrating proof-of-concept, achieving robust immunogenicity, and generating translational data credible to future regulatory submissions and partnerships.
Our Service Offering: Adjuvant & Formulation Screening
CD BioSciences provides a comprehensive, modular service customised for your HHV vaccine development pipeline. Our solution encompasses the following key components:
1. Strategic consultation & design
- We begin with a discovery workshop to review your HHV antigen(s) (e.g., glycoproteins, latency-associated antigens, viral vectors, mRNA or protein formats) and your immunological objectives (e.g., neutralising antibodies, CD4+/CD8+ T-cells, mucosal immunity, tissue-resident memory).
- We conduct a landscape assessment of adjuvant technologies (e.g., TLR agonists, saponin-based, emulsion/adjuvant systems, nanoparticle delivery) and formulation strategies (lipid nanoparticle, polymeric microparticles, lipid-in-water emulsions, depot/slow-release systems) with a focus on HHV-specific precedent and challenges.
- We generate a screening plan including defined adjuvant candidates and formulation formats, assay endpoints (immunogenicity panels, safety/tolerability proxies, stability, manufacturability) and decision criteria.
2. Adjuvant screening
- We test a curated panel of adjuvants under the selected antigen(s) in small-scale in vitro or ex vivo assays (e.g., dendritic cell activation, cytokine profiling, antigen uptake/presentation, moDC/T cell co-culture).
- We assess adjuvant-antigen compatibility in formulation (e.g., adsorption, particle size, release kinetics, physicochemical stability).
- We provide a ranked report of adjuvant performance (immunogenicity surrogate, formulation stability, manufacturability risk) with recommendation for in vivo follow-up.
3. Formulation screening
- Parallel to adjuvant work, we evaluate a range of formulation matrices: e.g., alum or aluminium salt combinations, oil-in-water emulsions, liposome/vesicle systems, polymeric micro/nanoparticles, lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formats where applicable. Each format is assessed for antigen-integrity, release profile, particle size/distribution, stability under storage/shipping conditions, and compatibility with adjuvant and antigen.
- For each candidate formulation we conduct stability/accelerated stress testing, excipient stress-tests (temperature, freeze-thaw, agitation) and measure key parameters (e.g. antigen integrity via SDS-PAGE/Western blot/HPLC, particle size/DLS, endotoxin, sterility).
- We deliver a formulation matrix report summarising: formulation composition; manufacturability risk; predicted shelf-life; immunogenicity potential (based on adjuvant/vehicle synergy) and recommended next-stage in vivo protocol.
4. Immunogenicity pilot study support
- Once adjuvant/formulation candidates are selected (e.g., top 2-3), we support pilot immunogenicity studies (in your client's in-house or partnering in vivo lab) by providing full documentation of immunisation protocol, sample collection plans (serum, PBMCs, relevant tissue), immune‐read-out design (ELISA, neutralisation, T cell ELISpot/ICS, tissue-resident T-cells if applicable).
- We provide go/no-go decision criteria for advancing into a full immunogenicity/efficacy package, including recommended potency assays, dose-escalation, prime-boost regimens, route optimization (intramuscular, intradermal, mucosal).
- We summarise the adjuvant/formulation data in a package report suitable for inclusion in pre-clinical study synopses, or regulatory briefing documents.
5. Documentation & regulatory-aligned deliverables
- CD BioSciences delivers a screening results dossier outlining methods, results, data interpretation, risk assessment and recommendation for next stage.
- We include an adjuvant/formulation technical file summarising composition, compatibility, manufacturing considerations, excipient sourcing, stability data and expected CMC implications.
- We ensure that the documentation supports third-party due diligence and future regulatory filings (pre-IND or equivalent) by providing transparency, data traceability and robust scientific justification.
Why Choose CD BioSciences for HHV Adjuvant & Formulation Screening?
Domain expertise in HHV immunology and vaccine research
Our team has extensive experience in herpesvirus biology—including latency, reactivation, immune-evasion mechanisms and viral oncogenesis (especially relevant for HHVs such as KSHV/HHV-8). We draw on the latest peer-reviewed literature and integrate insights such as the challenges of latent infection and mucosal shedding in herpesviruses. This ensures that adjuvant/formulation strategies are not generic, but tailored to the unique features of HHVs.
Integrated approach combining adjuvant, formulation and immunological read-outs
Unlike providers who treat adjuvant and formulation screening as separate silos, we integrate both from day one—thus optimising synergy (for example, an adjuvant whose kinetics match the antigen release profile from a nanoparticle, or a formulation that enhances dendritic cell uptake and migration to lymph nodes). This holistic view reduces programme risk and increases the probability of selecting a viable candidate for in vivo advancement.
High-quality documentation
Each screening report and dossier is authored by subject-matter experts, includes detailed methods, data analysis and interpretation, and is supported by relevant references. Our clients (US/Europe-based R&D organisations) rely on this level of rigor for partnering decisions and internal review.
Research-stage focus aligned with your needs
We understand that our clients operate in the research or pre-clinical phase (not yet clinical stage). Our service is explicitly calibrated for this stage: screening work, immunogenicity support, formulation optimization—but not full GMP manufacturing or clinical trial management. This keeps our scope aligned, cost-efficient, and focused on what matters at the pre-clinical stage.
Efficient timeline and risk-management
With pre-designed screening modules and experienced technical workflows, we deliver screening results within defined timelines (typically 8-12 weeks from project initiation, depending on complexity). Early go/no-go milestones reduce downstream waste. Clients gain clear decision points for whether to progress a vaccine candidate into full pre‐clinical immunogenicity/efficacy.
Typical Workflow and Deliverables
| Phase | Activities | Deliverables |
| Kick-off & Planning | Discovery workshop, adjuvant/formulation panel design, immuno-endpoint definition | Project charter, screening plan |
| Adjuvant Screening | In vitro/ex vivo assays, adjuvant-antigen compatibility | Adjuvant screening report (ranking, data tables) |
| Formulation Screening | Formulation matrix, stability testing, release kinetics | Formulation report (matrix, stability, manufacturability) |
| Pilot Immunogenicity Plan | In vivo immunisation design, sample plan, immune assays | Immunogenicity plan document |
| Final Screening Dossier | Integration of adjuvant + formulation data, risk assessment, recommendation | Screening dossier (for client & partner use) |
We also provide optional consultation on scale-up considerations, excipient sourcing, and regulatory implications (e.g., adjuvant/vehicle safety precedent, CMC manufacturability, storage/shipping stability) if you plan to proceed to full pre-clinical/IND-enabling studies.
FAQs
Why This Service is Critical Right Now
With the resurgence of interest in herpesvirus-related vaccines—especially therapeutic vaccines for EBV, CMV, KSHV and next-generation vaccines for HSV and VZV—the frontier is moving fast. For example, a recent review emphasises that while two vaccines for VZV exist, none yet exist for HSV/CMV/EBV and “new adjuvants that induce CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses” are considered important enablers. Another analysis underscores that subunit vaccines for herpesviruses “require adjuvants … to stimulate the innate immune system and proper inoculation”.
For vaccine programmes targeting HHVs, early failure to optimise the adjuvant and formulation architecture often results in weak immune outcomes and wasted time and investment. By engaging CD BioSciences' adjuvant and formulation screening service early in the pre-clinical path, you significantly de-risk your programme, accelerate candidate selection and strengthen your data-package for partnerships or funding.
References
- Bai L., Xu J. et al. A review of HSV pathogenesis, vaccine development, and applications. Frontiers in Microbiology. 2024.
- Cao S. Recent advances in the study of alphaherpesvirus latency and reactivation. Viruses. 2024.
- Cohen JI. Therapeutic vaccines for herpesviruses. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2024;134(9):e179483.
- Malik S., et al. Insights into the novel therapeutics and vaccines against herpesviruses. Vaccines (MDPI). 2023;11(2):325.
- Casper C., et al. KSHV (HHV-8) vaccine: promises and potential pitfalls for a tumour-virus vaccine. NPJ Vaccines. 2022;7:108.