Object Details
- Description (Brief)
- Recombivax HB is a vaccine that provides immunization against Hepatitis B. It is injected intramuscularly. Recombivax HB is the first recombinant vaccine. Prior hepatitis B vaccines relied on viruses derived from human blood sources.
- Recombinant pharmaceuticals are created by inserting genes from one species into a host species, often yeast or bacteria, where they do not naturally occur. The genes code for a desired product, and therefore the genetically modified host organisms can be grown and used as a kind of living factory to produce the product. In this case, genes coding for the hepatitus B virus's surface antigen are inserted into yeast. Yeast produce the hepatitis B surface antigens, which are harvested and used as the active ingredient in Recombivax HB. Surface antigens are the part of the hepatitis B virus that the body recognizes to create an immune response. After being exposed to the antigen, the body learns to identify and respond quickly to the presence of hepatitis B and can successfully ward off future possible infections.
- Object consists of a white cardboard box with red stripes and light blue, red and black printing. Box contains product insert and round clear glass bottle with green metal top and white label. Bottle contains clear solution.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1986
- product expiration date
- 1988-06-19
- maker
- Merck Sharp and Dohme
- place made
- United States: Pennsylvania, West Point
- Subject
- Vaccines
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Medicine
- Health & Medicine
- The Antibody Initiative
- Biotechnology and Genetics
- Antibody Initiative: Infectious Disease, Allergy, and Immunotherapy Collections
- Recombinant Pharmaceuticals
- Science & Mathematics
- Credit Line
- Merck, Sharp & Dohme, Division of Merck & Company, Inc. (through A. B. Fiskett)
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
- ID Number
- 1987.0782.02
- accession number
- 1987.0782
- catalog number
- 1987.0782.02
- Object Name
- biological
- vaccine, hepatitis
- Physical Description
- Hepatitis B surface antigen on an alum adjuvant, 10 mcg per 1.0 mL (drug active ingredients)
- Measurements
- overall: 2 1/2 in x 1 5/16 in x 1 3/16 in; 6.35 cm x 3.33375 cm x 3.01625 cm
- bottle: 4.6 cm x 1.7 cm; 1 13/16 in x 21/32 in
- Record ID
- nmah_1000964