Vaccine Adjuvants Market

Market Definition

Vaccine adjuvants are agents that enhance immune response to antigens, improving the strength and duration of vaccine efficacy. They act by stimulating the innate immune system and promoting antigen presentation to optimize protective immunity. Used in both prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines for infectious diseases, oncology, and emerging public health threats.

Manufacturers and researchers incorporate adjuvants to boost immunogenicity, reduce antigen dosage, tailor immune profiles, and streamline vaccine development and deployment across clinical and immunization programs.

Vaccine Adjuvants Market Overview

The global vaccine adjuvants market size was valued at USD 3,243.4 million in 2024 and is projected to grow from USD 3,452.3 million in 2025 to USD 5,700.3 million by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 7.43% during the forecast period.

The growth of the market is driven by increasing demand for more effective vaccines against complex and emerging infectious diseases, along with rising investments in next-generation vaccine platforms. These factors are prompting manufacturers to adopt advanced adjuvants that enhance immune responses and support dose-sparing strategies, thereby expanding market potential.

Major companies operating in the vaccine adjuvants industry are GlaxoSmithKline, Dynavax Technologies, Novavax, Agenus, Inc., Croda International Plc, ABF Ingredients, Merck KGaA, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, Moderna, Sanofi, InvivoGen, Aurum, Brenntag, and Ginkgo Bioworks.

Rising demand for enhanced vaccine efficacy is boosting the use of adjuvants in existing and next-generation immunization programs. Adjuvants are crucial for strengthening immune responses, particularly against complex pathogens that require more robust protection.

Their ability to stimulate stronger and longer-lasting immunity is supporting the development of more effective vaccines. Manufacturers are incorporating advanced adjuvant systems to improve vaccine performance across diverse populations and disease targets.

• In August 2024, the U.S. FDA amended the Emergency Use Authorization for the Novavax COVID‑19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted (2024–2025 formula), containing the Matrix‑M adjuvant. This approval supported widespread use during the Omicron JN.1 variant wave, offering a non-mRNA option for individuals aged 12 and above and enhancing supply through antigen-sparing.

Key Highlights

1. The vaccine adjuvants industry size was valued at USD 3,243.4 million in 2024.
2. The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.43% from 2025 to 2032.
3. North America held a share of 36.55% in 2024, valued at USD 1,185.5 million.
4. The emulsion-based segment garnered USD 1,120.9 million in revenue in 2024.
5. The active immunostimulants segment is expected to reach USD 2,608.1 million by 2032.
6. The intradermal segment secured the largest revenue share of 35.44% in 2024.
7. The cancer segment is set to grow at a CAGR of 8.59% through the forecast period.
8. The commercial applications segment is estimated to securethe largest revenue share of 67.45% in 2032 .
9. Asia Pacific is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 8.32% over the forecast period.

Market Driver

Surge in Infectious Disease Outbreaks

The rising incidence of infectious disease outbreaks is fueling global demand for adjuvanted vaccines. Increasing cases of influenza, COVID-19, tuberculosis, malaria, and other emerging infections are highlighting the need for vaccines that deliver strong and durable immune protection. Adjuvants are being used to enhance vaccine efficacy, particularly in vulnerable populations such as the elderly and immunocompromised. 

Rapid spread of new and re-emerging pathogens is prompting accelerated vaccine development, with adjuvants playing a key role in achieving desired immunogenicity. In response, public health agencies and vaccine developers are prioritizing adjuvanted formulations to improve effectiveness and coverage.

• In December 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) prequalified the R21/Matrix‑M malaria vaccine, developed by the University of Oxford and Serum Institute of India, with Novavax’s Matrix‑M adjuvant. It is the second malaria vaccine approved for widespread use in children, demonstrating approximately 75% efficacy in early trials.

Market Challenge

Safety and Reactogenicity Concerns Limiting Public Acceptance

A key challenge limiting the progress of the vaccine adjuvants market is addressing the potential side effects associated with certain adjuvant formulations, particularly in vulnerable populations such as infants, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. 

Concerns over reactogenicity, including local and systemic inflammatory responses, are affecting public confidence and influencing vaccination decisions. This is posing barriers to broader immunization efforts and slowing the adoption of novel vaccine formulations.

To address this challenge, market players are conducting extensive safety evaluations, refining adjuvant compositions, and prioritizing the development of low-toxicity alternatives. Companies are also engaging in transparent communication and post-marketing surveillance to foster confidence in product safety and promote wider acceptance.

• In December 2024, Researchers at the University of Milano-Bicocca in Italy developed a novel adjuvant system as an alternative to AS01b by combining FP20, a synthetic TLR4 agonist, with QS21v, a simplified saponin-based adjuvant. The formulation was designed to improve both vaccine efficacy and formulation stability.

Market Trend

Growing Use of Nanoparticles and Liposomal Systems

A key trend in the vaccine adjuvants market is the development of nanoparticle-based and liposomal delivery systems to improve vaccine performance. These systems are enabling more controlled release of antigens and better targeting of immune cells. 

Innovations in formulation are also aiming to reduce toxicity and improve tolerability, supporting safer vaccine profiles. Research and development efforts are focused on combining efficacy with safety to meet the needs of both preventive and therapeutic vaccines.

• In October 2024, Netherlands-based AdJane launched its proprietary Ada-24 adjuvant. Ada-24 is a liposomal nanoparticle system derived from detoxified outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) of Gram-negative bacteria. It is designed to enhance immune responses by improving antigen presentation and promoting robust immunity. Tested in humans, it offers broad applicability across a wide range of vaccines.

Vaccine Adjuvants Market Report Snapshot

Segmentation	Details
By Type	Emulsion-based, Saponin-based, Liposome-based, Polysaccharide-based, Others
By Usage Type	Active Immunostimulants, Carriers, Vehicle Adjuvants
By Route of Administration	Oral, Intramuscular, Subcutaneous, Intradermal, Others
By Application	Infectious Diseases, Cancer, Others
By End User	Research Applications, Commercial Applications
By Region	North America: U.S., Canada, Mexico
	Europe: France, UK, Spain, Germany, Italy, Russia, Rest of Europe
	Asia-Pacific: China, Japan, India, Australia, ASEAN, South Korea, Rest of Asia-Pacific
	Middle East & Africa: Turkey, U.A.E., Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Rest of Middle East & Africa
	South America: Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America

Market Segmentation

• By Type (Emulsion-based, Saponin-based, Liposome-based, Polysaccharide-based, and Others): The emulsion-based segment earned USD 1,120.9 million in 2024, mainly due to its proven ability to enhance antigen stability and immune response, along with widespread use in licensed vaccines such as those for influenza and COVID-19.
• By Usage Type (Active Immunostimulants, Carriers, and Vehicle Adjuvants): The active immunostimulants segment held a share of 43.23% in 2024, fueled by its ability to enhance and prolong immune responses.
• By Route of Administration (Oral, Intramuscular, Subcutaneous, Intradermal, and Others): The intradermal segment is projected to reach USD 2,293.2 million by 2032, owing to its ability to achieve strong immune responses with lower antigen doses.
• By Application (Infectious Diseases, Cancer, and Others): The cancer segment is poised to grow at a CAGR of 8.59% through the forecast period, largely attributed to rising investments in therapeutic cancer vaccines.

Vaccine Adjuvants Market Regional Analysis

Based on region, the market has been classified into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America.

The North America vaccine adjuvants market share stood at 36.55% in 2024, valued at USD 1,185.5 million. This dominance is attributed to consistent investments by government agencies such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) in vaccine innovation, particularly in vaccines that require advanced adjuvants. 

These funds are strategically directed toward pandemic preparedness, biodefense, and next-generation vaccine development, benefiting public research institutions and private biotech companies. This strong financial support accelerates the development and testing of novel adjuvanted vaccines, supporting regional market growth.

• In September 2024, CSL Seqirus secured a USD 121.4 million multi-year contract from HHS/BARDA to expand its MF59 adjuvant stockpile in the U.S. The contract supports the National Pre‑Pandemic Influenza Vaccine Stockpile by enabling domestic production of up to 40 million doses in Holly Springs, North Carolina.

The Asia-Pacific vaccine adjuvants industry is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8.32% over the forecast period. This growth is propelled by the high prevalence of infectious diseases in Asia Pacific, including dengue, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and Japanese encephalitis. These illnesses require stronger immune responses than what conventional vaccines can offer. 

To address this, vaccine developers are increasingly using adjuvants to improve immunogenicity, minimize dosage requirements, and ensure broader population coverage, fostering demand for adjuvant formulations tailored to regional health needs.

• In June 2024, Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam and Malaysia launched Takeda’s Qdenga dengue vaccine through public–private vaccination campaigns. Qdenga is a tetravalent live-attenuated vaccine offering single-dose protection against all four dengue serotypes, aiming to reduce dose requirements and enhance immunogenic coverage in endemic regions.

Regulatory Frameworks

• In the U.S., vaccine adjuvants are regulated as part of the complete biologic product under the Biologics License Application (BLA) pathway by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They are not approved separately; their safety and efficacy are evaluated within the overall vaccine formulation. The FDA also mandates post-marketing surveillance through systems such as the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), particularly for emergency use authorizations and stockpiled vaccines.
• The European Medicines Agency (EMA) regulates adjuvanted vaccines through the centralized approval process overseen by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP). Adjuvants must be justified and evaluated as part of the final vaccine dossier. Clinical trials and marketing approval require full data on safety, immunogenicity, and GMP compliance.
• In Japan, the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) jointly regulate adjuvanted vaccines under the Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Act. Full approval requires preclinical and clinical data on both antigen and adjuvant, along with manufacturing and safety documentation.
• China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) governs adjuvanted vaccines under the Vaccine Administration Law and related technical guidelines. Regulatory review includes clinical data, quality standards, aluminum adjuvant controls, and post-market safety tracking. Fast-track approvals are available during national emergencies. The 2022 Rules on Vaccine Manufacturing and Distribution enforce strict controls on production, batch release, and logistics.

Competitive Landscape

Major players in the vaccine adjuvants industry are adopting strategies such as strategic partnerships, focused research and development, and advancement of proprietary adjuvant technologies. Collaborations to combine novel immune modulators with established adjuvant components are fostering innovation and expediting commercialization, and strengthening market presence.

• In June 2024, SPI Pharma partnered with Inimmune Corp., a biotechnology company focused on innate immune modulators, to commercialize two advanced adjuvant systems, Valens T4Q and T4AH. These systems combine SPI’s QS‑21 saponin with Inimmune’s synthetic TLR4 agonists and are positioned to support presentation at World Vaccine Congress Europe.

List of Key Companies in Vaccine Adjuvants Market:

• GlaxoSmithKline
• Dynavax Technologies
• Novavax
• Agenus, Inc.
• Croda International Plc
• ABF Ingredients
• Merck KGaA
• Novartis
• Pfizer Inc
• Moderna
• Sanofi
• InvivoGen
• Aurum
• Brenntag 
• Ginkgo Bioworks

Recent Developments (Partnerships/Agreements)

• In March 2024, Croda International partnered with the Access to Advanced Health Institute (AAHI). The alliance focuses on co-developing novel vaccine adjuvant formulations to enhance vaccine efficacy and stability. The deal underscores Croda’s commitment to supplying advanced adjuvant technology, particularly for emerging markets.
• In February 2024, TollereBio licensed a vaccine adjuvant platform from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, based on bacterial enzymatic combinatorial chemistry (BECC). The platform enables the development of cost-effective adjuvants for both therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines.