AS04

AS04 is an adjuvant which is used in the pharmaceutical preparation as a pharmaceutical excipient. It consists of a complex composed of an aluminum salt and monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL). It is discussed that the MPL in AS04 specifically activated via activation of Toll-like receptor TLR4 cytotoxic T cells, without activating other inflammatory cells. Thus an enhanced immune response is triggered, which helps conserve vaccine antigens. Currently AS04 is used in the hepatitis B vaccine Fendrix ® ( EU approved in the Netherlands in the trade) and in the HPV vaccine Cervarix ®, which is active against the human papillomavirus 16 and 18.