The Quillaja saponaria tree is a slow-growing evergreen native to Chile whose bark has long been used for medicinal and commercial purposes. Quillaja bark is an abundant source of saponins, a group of organic compounds that are used as an emulsifier and foaming agent in cosmetics, shampoos, whipping cream, beer, soft drinks, and even fire extinguishers.

But quillaja saponins serve an even greater purpose as a key ingredient in life-saving vaccines. Research has revealed that quillaja bark contains several physiologically active saponins that display strong adjuvant activity when used in either human or animal vaccines. (Adjuvants enhance the immune system’s response – they are commonly used to improve the efficacy and lasting effect of a vaccine by being added with the antigen as part of a vaccine system).

One saponin molecule in particular – QS-21 – has been identified as a superior vaccine adjuvant given the balanced nature of the immune response that it works to elicit when given with an antigen that differentiates it most from other adjuvants. Today, QS-21 is used in licensed and exploratory vaccines, including those against malaria, cancer, and HIV-1, and is in clinical trials for multiple other vaccines, such as those in development against COVID-19.

Because of this, demand for saponins extracted from quillaja bark is high and is expected to increase, raising concerns about the sustainability of these valuable trees. Part of the problem is that to date, the QS-21 molecules are derived solely from the bark of older quillaja trees – a harvesting process that negatively impacts the forest and the sustainability of the resource It is imperative that the industry find a more sustainable way to produce QS-21 and other saponin-based adjuvants.

That’s where Q-VANT comes in. Based on our decades of experience working with the quillaja tree and saponins, and refining our purification and fractionating processes, Q-VANT has developed a disruptive new technology that enables us to produce QS-21 saponins from the full biomass of the Quillaja saponaria tree — increasing production volume by more than 1,000. By increasing the yields of extraction from the quillaja, we are helping ensure the long-term supply of this valuable resource.

To learn more about QS-21, the supply chain problem and how Q-VANT is addressing it head on, visit our QS-21 Overview page.