Dry stabilizing compositions for bioactive materials include sugars and hydrolyzed proteins, and may be formed into tablets or other forms providing enhanced stability for the bioactive material. Compositions containing the bioactive materials may be produced by a method that includes (a) combining the bioactive material with other ingredients in an aqueous solvent to form a viscous slurry (b) snap-freezing the slurry in liquid nitrogen to form solid frozen particles, beads, droplets or strings (c) primary drying by water removal under vacuum of the product of step (b) while maintaining it at a temperature above its freezing temperature and (d) secondary drying of the product of step (c) at maximum vacuum and a temperature of 20°C or higher for a time sufficient to reduce the water activity to below 0.3 Aw.
