Terpenes in Novavax and Gavi vaccines made from tree bark and shark liver

What does shark liver oil, a GlaxoSmithKline vaccine adjuvant restricted for use in vape pens, have in common with a tree bark extract used in Novavax and root beer? The answer is terpenes.

Squalene is a triterpene derived from shark liver oil that the state of Oregon restricts for use in vape pens. GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is now using squalene for 200 million vaccine doses. Gavi offers GSK’s recombinant protein-based COVID-19 vaccine with squalene adjuvant.

GSK has pointed out the importance of finding alternatives to squalene, but has not come up with an option. However, since the swine flu epidemic in 2009, they have been using AS03, the adjuvant containing squalene. Then, in 2013, Reuters reported an increase in cases of narcolepsy in children caused by AS03. (1) Squalene is essentially an immunogenic by-product of the fishing industry that allows vaccine manufacturers to dilute their products; Thinning herd immunity.

Soap bark extract is the main ingredient in QS-21, a vaccine adjuvant used in Novavax.

Terpenes in Novavax, tree bark in a vaccine

Novavax managed to avoid shark oil for the adjuvant in its recombinant protein-based COVID-19 vaccine. Novavax takes a more ethical approach by extracting terpenes from trees, as opposed to sharks for their vaccine. Instead of squalene, they use quillaia extract from soapbark trees.

Soap Bark, Quillaja Saponaria Extract is rich in triterpene-filled saponins. Despite their differences, the respective terpene extracts used by Novavax and GSK contribute to the cellular immunity of the vaccine.

Triterpenes in vaccines and thrombosis

However, like the adenovirus vaccine offered by Astrazeneca, Novavax could carry a small risk of thrombosis. Terpenes are natural, and those found in some plants are mostly beneficial. However, safety is largely dose dependent. With this in mind, the triterpene extract used in Novavax has led to at least one confirmed case of thrombosis. According to the FDA, the man was in his 60s and suffered a non-fatal episode of the blood disorder — after drinking root beer.

We postulate that Quillaia could be a potential cause of thrombocytopenia given that there was no other apparent etiology in the patient and due to the toxicities and immune system interactions reported by Quillaia. Conclusion: Quillaia, used as the foaming agent in QV Root Beer,TM, may be implicated in this case of thrombocytopenia.

Hachelroad, FDA.

Incredibly, the FDA deleted this archive from their website while the Novavax vaccine was under review in other parts of the world. This means that a plant extract containing a random mix of terpenoids known to cause thrombosis is used as an ingredient in a prescribed medication. In addition, the manufacturer is not liable for any injuries that occur, since the drug is considered a vaccine. Meanwhile, the FDA still refuses to approve cannabis as a drug.

Shark drinks a Beer mural by Anthony Zito, photo by Scott Beale | Laughing Squid.

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1. Kelland, K. 2013. Insight: GSK vaccine ingredient examined for evidence of narcolepsy. Reuters.