QS-21 is an investigational adjuvant, which is a substance added to vaccines and other immunotherapies that is designed to enhance the body’s immune response to the antigen contained within the... It is the leading member of the Stimulon family of adjuvants.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed
QS-21 has the potential ability to increase total vaccine-specific antibody response and T-cell response. In addition, QS-21 appears to increase potency of the vaccine with relatively small quantities of antigen and to exhibit synergy with other adjuvants. Because of the ability of QS-21 to improve the body’s immune response to very low doses of antigen, vaccine antigen may be ‘spared,’ which could significantly decrease the amount of antigen required for a given dose and make vaccine production more economical.
- Primary indication
- Investigated for use/treatment in genital herpes, HIV infection, hepatitis (viral, B), influenza, malaria, melanoma, and viral infection.Curator reviewed
- Code names
- QS-21
Resolves to
What you can answer from here — as of July 03, 2026
Which drugs share a target with QS-21, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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