Merck + Co., Inc.

Pamela D Burke

Peter J Kniskern

Arpi Hagopian

William J Miller

Dennis J Kubek

Charlotte C Ip

John P Hennessey

Richard L Tolman

Stephen Marburg

John P Hennessey Jr

Type-specific capsular polysaccharide preparations from Streptococcus pneumoniae, having on average less than about 1000 oligosaccharide repeat units per molecule, polydispersities between 1.0 and 1.4, intrinsic viscosities between 0.6 and 3.0 dL/g, and less than 3% contamination of type-specific polysaccharide by group-specific C-polysaccharide, are produced by a novel process. The novel type specific polysaccharide products are useful in the preparation of vaccines, especially covalent conjugates comprising the novel polysaccharide linked to a T-cell stimulatory carrier protein. Vaccines comprising the novel polysaccharides are useful in the prevention of infection and of diseases associated with infection by Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Process for making capsular polysaccharides from Streptococcus

A novel conjugate vaccine comprising partially hydrolyzed, highly purified, capsular polysaccharide (Ps) from Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria (pneumococci, Pn) linked to an immunogenic carrier protein, is produced by a new process. The conjugate is useful in the prevention of pneumococcal infections. Vaccines comprising a mixture of from one to ten different pneumococcal polysaccharide-immunogenic protein (Pn-Ps-PRO) conjugates induce broadly protective recipient immune responses against the cognate pathogens from which the polysaccharide components are derived. Young children and infants younger than 2 years old, normally unable to mount a protective immune response to the Pn-Ps alone, exhibit protective immune responses upon vaccination with these Pn-Ps-PRO conjugates.

Pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine

The present invention relates to recombinant fusion polypeptides of HIV envelope and HBsAg, suitable as vaccines against AIDS and/or ARC and hepatitis, as well as immunogens for inducting antibodies for passive protection or treatment of AIDS and/or ARC.

Expression of fusion protein of HIV envelope and HBsAG

The present invention relates to recombinant fusion polypeptides of HIV envelope and HBsAg, suitable as vaccines against AIDS and/or ARC and hepatitis, as well as immunogens for inducing antibodies for passive protection or treatment of AIDS and/or ARC.

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Lansdale, PA, United States of America

Pamela D Burke