Exceptional purity
Shell Ondina X oils do not contain polycyclic aromatics or pristane, hopanes or steranes1. They are also virtually free of sulphur and nitrogen compounds.±
A rising global population is driving increased demand for farming and meat products, which means that farmers need more animal vaccines with fewer side effects. As a key component of vaccines, alongside the antigens (the active substances), adjuvants are an effective tool for enhancing their efficacy. By slowing the release of antigens and strengthening the stimulation of the immune response, adjuvants reduce the dosage needed to produce the same result from a given vaccine.
Many animal vaccines use mineral oils as adjuvants, which release the antigen gradually to improve efficacy. However, the complex structure of these white mineral oils, typically refined from crude oil, is difficult to break down and can leave residues that might lead to safety concerns. Existing bio-based alternatives also face performance and efficacy challenges.
To address this, Shell has developed next-generation adjuvant oils based on gas-to-liquid technology. This provides adjuvants that deliver high vaccine efficacy with fewer side effects for better animal welfare.*
Shell Ondina X oils create animal vaccine adjuvants that improve animal welfare and offer better protection for consumers and the environment. Discover how our GTL technology offers an effective alternative to mineral oils.
Find out more about our innovation
Animal vaccine animation voiceover 1221585
Next generation, mineral-oil-free adjuvant oils for animal vaccines
The product image shown is for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of the product.
Many animal vaccines use mineral oils as adjuvants.
These oils are emulsified, and the antigen is released gradually as the emulsion degrades.
Typically refined from crude oil, these white mineral oil adjuvants are a mixture of complex branched and cyclic alkanes, which are difficult to break down.
Mineral oil residues and aromatic hydrocarbons are undesirable, with MOSH and MOAH concerns.
There are bio-based alternatives, but plant-based squalene can have source and technical performance issues with limited stability or variable composition and squalene from shark liver may contain pristane, which can cause undesirable autoimmune responses.
Shark-derived squalene also raises ethical concerns, with millions of sharks, including endangered species, being killed every year.
Now Shell has created an alternative.
Shell Ondina X oils are made using Shell’s gas-to-liquids technology which converts natural gas into a pure, synthetic product with stable chemical properties.
These oils are available in a range of viscosities with consistent quality. Their low-branched isoparaffins minimise bioaccumulation, and they stay fluid at low temperatures.
[On-screen: Better vaccine injectability at low temperature]
[On-screen: Reduced local inflammation]
Shell Ondina X oils reduce side effects, lower accumulation in liver and fat tissues, eliminate the issue of MOSH and MOAH vaccine residues, and improve biodegradability.
This results in a scalable, versatile solution that improves animal welfare and offers better protection for consumers and the ecosystem.
Contact us to find out more
www.shell.com/OndinaX-AnimalVaccineAdjuvant
Shell Ondina X I Life Science
The product image shown is for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of the product.
Shell Ondina X oils do not contain polycyclic aromatics or pristane, hopanes or steranes1. They are also virtually free of sulphur and nitrogen compounds.±
Low systemic accumulation and rapid elimination makes vaccines safer for animals, humans and ecosystems.
GTL animal vaccine adjuvants are more versatile and scalable, making it easier to meet high demand.*
Shell Ondina X adjuvant oils provide low viscosity, low accumulation rate and superior pour point performance.
* Shivaprasad P, de Azevedo, E, Carrillo, J-C, Brosell, A: Animal vaccine adjuvants: A new use for gas-to-liquids oils. Shell TechXplorer Digest 2021: 66-70.
±Disclosed anonymously: Use of Synthetic Medicinal White Oils in Animal Vaccines. Research Disclosure database number 666021. Published in the October 2019 paper journal. Published digitally 02 September 2019 12:31 UT.