How to Make Anthrax Vaccines That Survive Freezing
A method for protecting sensitive anthrax vaccines from damage during freezing and thawing by using specific sugars and additives during the drying process.
Original patent title: “Temperature stable vaccine formulations”
A method for protecting sensitive anthrax vaccines from damage during freezing and thawing by using specific sugars and additives during the drying process. Granted to Emergent Product Development Gaithersburg Inc in 2019 with 16 claims.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a way to stabilize anthrax vaccines so they do not lose their effectiveness when frozen or dried. The process involves taking an anthrax antigen attached to an aluminum adjuvant and swapping out the original liquid for a new mixture containing high concentrations of non-reducing sugars like trehalose or sucrose. By removing the original liquid through centrifugation or filtration and replacing it with this sugar-rich solution, the vaccine can be lyophilized (freeze-dried) without the proteins falling apart. This ensures the vaccine remains potent even after being stored in harsh conditions.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover vaccines that do not use aluminum-based adjuvants.
- Does not cover liquid-only vaccines that are not intended for lyophilization.
- Does not cover the use of reducing sugars like glucose or fructose for stabilization.
- Does not cover methods that do not involve the specific step of exchanging the liquid component.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in the specific liquid-exchange process that replaces the original buffer with a high-concentration non-reducing sugar solution, which acts as a molecular scaffold to prevent the antigen from denaturing during the stress of freeze-drying.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
BioThrax (anthrax vaccine)
Lyophilized vaccine stockpiles for public health defense
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Vaccines are often delicate proteins that degrade if the temperature is not perfectly controlled, which is a major hurdle for distribution in remote areas or during emergencies. By enabling a stable, freeze-dried form of the anthrax vaccine, this technology reduces the need for a strict cold chain, making it easier to stockpile and transport life-saving medicine.
Filed
December 23, 2014
Granted
July 23, 2019
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Emergent BioSolutions, the parent company of the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, remains a primary player in anthrax vaccine manufacturing. Other pharmaceutical firms focused on vaccine stabilization and cold-chain-independent logistics are also exploring similar sugar-based lyophilization techniques.
Market impact
This patent supports the development of more robust, shelf-stable biodefense products. It helps manufacturers move away from liquid-only formulations that are prone to spoilage, potentially lowering costs and increasing the reliability of national medical stockpiles.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a way to stabilize anthrax vaccines so they do not lose their effectiveness when frozen or dried. The process involves taking an anthrax antigen attached to an aluminum adjuvant and swapping out the original liquid for a new mixture containing high concentrations of non-reducing sugars like trehalose or sucrose. By removing the original liquid through centrifugation or filtration and replacing it with this sugar-rich solution, the vaccine can be lyophilized (freeze-dried) without the proteins falling apart. This ensures the vaccine remains potent even after being stored in harsh conditions.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in the specific liquid-exchange process that replaces the original buffer with a high-concentration non-reducing sugar solution, which acts as a molecular scaffold to prevent the antigen from denaturing during the stress of freeze-drying.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover vaccines that do not use aluminum-based adjuvants.
- Does not cover liquid-only vaccines that are not intended for lyophilization.
- Does not cover the use of reducing sugars like glucose or fructose for stabilization.
- Does not cover methods that do not involve the specific step of exchanging the liquid component.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
11/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$73K – $234K
Midpoint $146K · 8.5 yr remaining · industry ×3.0
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
16 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Welch, R. W., Miles, A. P., Ruiz, C. F., & Look, J. (2019). How to Make Anthrax Vaccines That Survive Freezing (U.S. Patent No. 10,357,559). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10357559/luxturna-voretigene-neparvovec
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How to Make Anthrax Vaccines That Survive Freezing cover?
A method for protecting sensitive anthrax vaccines from damage during freezing and thawing by using specific sugars and additives during the drying process.
Who owns patent US 10357559?
Emergent Product Development Gaithersburg Inc owns this patent, granted in 2019.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on July 23, 2039, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Vaccines are often delicate proteins that degrade if the temperature is not perfectly controlled, which is a major hurdle for distribution in remote areas or during emergencies. By enabling a stable, freeze-dried form of the anthrax vaccine, this technology reduces the need for a strict cold chain, making it easier to stockpile and transport life-saving medicine.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover vaccines that do not use aluminum-based adjuvants.
Patent monitoring