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Recombivax HB, Hepatitis B Vaccine (Recombinant) Adult Formula, 3 mL

National Museum of American History
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Object Details

Merck Sharp and Dohme
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
Credit Line
Merck, Sharp & Dohme, Division of Merck & Company, Inc. (through A. B. Fiskett)
ca 1986
product expiration date
1988-06-19
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
place made
United States: Pennsylvania, West Point
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
National Museum of American History
subject
Vaccines
Record ID
nmah_1000964
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a8-6140-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

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Recombivax HB, Hepatitus B Vaccine (Recombinant) Adult Formula, 3 mL.
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