QS 21 Products

QS-21 simultaneously stimulates both humoral (antibody) and cellular (T-cell) immune responses. It activates antigen-presenting cells and promotes Th1-type immunity, making it especially effective against intracellular pathogens and cancer. This dual-pathway activation enables strong, long-lasting immune protection, which is why QS-21 is a preferred component in composite adjuvant systems such as AS01, AS02, ALFQ, and Matrix-M.

In the AS01 adjuvant system — used in GSK's Shingrix and Arexvy vaccines — QS-21 acts alongside MPL (monophosphoryl lipid A) and liposomes to synergistically amplify immune activation. QS-21 contributes to the stimulation of both antibody production and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses, enabling the exceptional efficacy seen in Shingrix, which demonstrates over 95% effectiveness against shingles.

QS-21 is an active component in five globally approved vaccines: Shingrix (shingles), Mosquirix/RTS,S and R21/Matrix-M (malaria), Arexvy (RSV), and COVID-19 vaccines. It is also in Phase I–III clinical trials for over 20 candidates, including HIV, cancer, herpes, Alzheimer's disease, pneumococcal, hepatitis B, Clostridium, and anthrax vaccines.

VuRoyal supplies QS-21 manufactured by Desert King International, which holds GMP, IPEC GMP, and EXCiPACT certifications — making Desert King the first Chilean company and only global Quillaja supplier with EXCiPACT certification. Raw material sourcing is FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified. VuRoyal itself is an FDA-registered, Massachusetts-approved pharmaceutical wholesaler.

Desert King International currently produces 5 kg of QS-21 annually with expandable capacity to 10 kg. Each gram of QS-21 enables 20,000–40,000 human doses, translating to a total annual supply capacity of 200–400 million human doses. Production is carried out in GMP-certified facilities located in Chile, Mexico, and Italy.

VuRoyal Pharmaceutical is the exclusive authorized distributor of Desert King International's QS-21 in China. The company provides end-to-end services including procurement, import filing, customs clearance, cold chain logistics, and free regulatory guidance. QS-21's excipient registration has entered Public Notice Phase I with China's Center for Drug Evaluation as of September 2, 2025. Contact +86-527-88881019 or qs21@vuroyal.com.