Where to from here for vaccine adjuvants?

Prof. Petrovsky shared lessons from 30 years of vaccine development, emphasizing that successful vaccines require the optimal combination of antigen, adjuvant, delivery system, animal models, and regulatory support rather than focusing on any single element. Advances in artificial intelligence have enabled the discovery of novel adjuvants, like CPG 55.2, which are now part of approved human vaccines. He highlighted that different expression platforms and protein structures can dramatically affect immunogenicity, and that complex vaccines, including therapeutic and universal vaccines for influenza, cancer, and Alzheimer’s, benefit from a holistic approach. Ultimately, he stressed starting with outcomes, embracing complexity, and leveraging collaboration rather than assuming mechanisms, as the key to tackling challenging diseases like HIV, malaria, and cancer.