Centocor, Inc.

John Lister-James

Richard T Dean

Raymond H Boutin

Koon Y Pak

Scott Buttram

A one vial method for labeling a sulfhydryl containing antibody or antibody fragment with technetium-99m is disclosed. The method comprises contacting an antibody mixture comprised of a sulfhydryl containing antibody or antibody fragment and a reducing agent with technetium-99m in an oxidized state. In a preferred embodiment, the antibody mixture further contains a water soluble ligand. A one vial kit for labeling a sulfhydryl containing antibody or antibody fragment with technetium-99m is also disclosed.

One vial method for labeling antibodies with Technetium-99m

The present invention provides cross-linked protein compositions consisting of two or more units of a target-specific protein joined by binding sulfhydryl groups on the target-specific protein units to a sulfhydryl-selective cross-linking agent and a method of making the compositions. These cross-linked protein compositions combine an increase in binding affinity due to the presence of multiple identical binding sites and stability to reduction conditions.

Cross-linking protein compositions having two or more identical binding

Protein conjugates comprising a protein covalently linked to at least one positively charged agent, so that the protein conjugate has an overall net positive charge in aqueous conditions at physiological pH are disclosed. The positively charged agents comprise polymers of three or more subunits selected from the group consisting of amino acids containing positively charged side chains and alkylamines. These protein conjugates have decreased blood clearance rates compared to conjugates which do not have the positively charged agents. The protein conjugates may further comprise diagnostic or therapeutic radionuclides bound to the protein or the positively charged agent through bifunctional coupling agents.

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Glenmoore, PA, United States of America

John Lister-James