Stabilizing excipient for inactivated whole virus vaccine

A process for preparing a vaccine composition containing a preparation of purified inactivated whole rabies virus, the process comprising:

• a) producing a whole rabies virus preparation by harvesting the supernatant of a virus infected cell culture,
• b) purifying then inactivating the whole virus preparation or, alternatively, inactivating and then purifying the whole virus preparation, and
• c) diluting the preparation of purified inactivated whole virus in a stabilizing excipient, the composition of said stabilizing excipient comprising:
• i) a buffer solution,
• ii) a mixture of essential and nonessential amino acids,
• iii) a disaccharide,
• iv) a polyol,
• v) a chelating agent,
• vi) urea or a urea derivative, and
• vii) a nonionic surfactant.

A stabilizing excipient composition for an inactivated whole rabies virus vaccine, wherein the composition comprises:

• i) a buffer solution,
• ii) a mixture of essential and nonessential amino acids,
• iii) a disaccharide,
• iv) a polyol,
• v) a chelating agent,
• vi) urea or a urea derivative, and
• vii) a nonionic surfactant.