Merck Sharp + Dohme Corp.

Jessica Sinacola

Akhilesh Bhambhani

Morrisa C Jones

Michael Albert Winters

Patrick L Ahl

Patrick McHugh

Emily Wen

Matthew P Watson

Justin Stanbro

Christopher Jon Farrell

Daniel D Roth

Robert K Evans

Lynne Isopi

David Krah

Jennifer Kriss

Rebecca Lizzano

Colleen Barr

Robert Evans

Lynn Isopi

A method is described for producing a pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide protein conjugate in which one or more activated pneumococcal polysaccharides of particular pneumococcal serotypes and carrier protein are separately lyophilized, the separately lyophilized polysaccharides and carrier protein are separately reconstituted in an organic solvent, and the reconstituted polysaccharide and carrier protein are then combined together by Tee-mixing and conjugated together to produce polysaccharide carrier protein conjugates. A plurality of conjugates, each comprising polysaccharides of a particular serotype, may be used to produce multivalent pneumococcal immunogenic compositions having a combination of conjugates for use in vaccines.

Methods for producingcapsular polysaccharide carrier protein conjugates

A method is described for producing a pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide protein conjugate in which one or more activated pneumococcal polysaccharides of particular pneumococcal serotypes and carrier protein are separately lyophilized in the form of lyospheres of carrier protein and lyospheres of the one or more polysaccharides. A predetermined amount of carrier protein lyospheres and activated polysaccharide lyospheres are mixed together and the mixture reconstituted in an organic solvent to produce polysaccharide carrier protein conjugates. A plurality of conjugates, each comprising polysaccharides of a particular serotype, may be used to produce multivalent pneumococcal immunogenic compositions having a combination of conjugates for use in vaccines.

Methods for producing streptococcus pneumoniae capsular polysaccharide carrier protein conjugates from lyospheres

A method is described for reconstituting lyophilized mutant diphtheria toxin in dimethyl sulfoxide for use in producing pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide mutant diphtheria toxin conjugates.

Methods for providing a homogenous solution of lyophilized mutant diptheria toxin in dimethylsulfoxide

Methods for preparing dried pellets of biological materials are described. The pellets can have a substantially spherical shape and are prepared by freezing droplets of a liquid composition of a desired biological material on a solid surface followed by microwave vacuum drying the frozen droplets. These methods are useful for preparing dried pellets having a high concentration of a desired biological material, in particular a therapeutic protein or vaccine, and which have a faster reconstitution time than lyophilized powder cakes prepared in vials.

Method of microwave vacuum drying spherical-shaped pellets of biological materials

Methods for preparing lyophilized pellets of biological materials are described. The pellets have a substantially spherical shape and are prepared by freezing droplets of a liquid composition of a desired biological material on a flat, solid surface, in particular, a surface that does not have any cavities, followed by lyophilizing the frozen droplets. These methods are useful for preparing lyophilized pellets having a high concentration of a desired biological material, in particular a therapeutic protein or vaccine, and which have a faster reconstitution time than lyophilized powder cakes prepared in vials.

Methods of preparing lyophilized spherical-shaped pellets of biological materials

This present invention relates to compositions and methods for stabilizing a dried vaccine formulations. In particular, the invention provides a method for producing a vaccine composition comprising the steps of providing an aqueous composition comprising a buffer, the vaccine components and between 17.5% w/w and 60% w/w of a non-polymeric sugar, freezing the composition, and applying microwave radiation under a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure in order to sublimate the composition and obtain a dried vaccine formulation. The invention also provides a product obtainable by this method.

Method of obtaining thermostable dried vaccine formulations

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Collegeville, PA, United States of America

Jessica Sinacola