Bayer Corporation

Bayer Healthcare LLC

Other

Wytold R Lebing

Hanns-Ingolf Paul

Patricia Alred

Douglas C Lee

Klaus-Peter Radtke

Scott A Cook

David Ownby

Woody D Wood

Mark David Chavez

Susan Trukawinski

Sharon X Chen

Doug C Lee

An improved process for the purification of antibodies from human plasma or other sources is disclosed. The process involves suspension of the antibodies at pH 3.8 to 4.5 followed by addition of caprylic acid and a pH shift to pH 5.0 to 5.2. A precipitate of contaminating proteins, lipids and caprylate forms and is removed, while the majority of the antibodies remain in solution. Sodium caprylate is again added to a final concentration of not less than about 15 mM. This solution is incubated for 1 hour at 25&#xb0; C. to effect viral inactivation. A precipitate (mainly caprylate) is removed and the clear solution is diluted with purified water to reduce ionic strength. Anion exchange chromatography using two different resins is utilized to obtain an exceptionally pure IgG with subclass distribution similar to the starting distribution. The method maximizes yield and produces a gamma globulin with greater than 99% purity. The resin columns used to obtain a high yield of IgG retain IgM and IgA. IgA and IgM may be eluted from these resins in high yield and purity.

Chromatographic method for high yield purification and viral inactivation of antibodies

An improved process for the purification of antibodies from human plasma or other sources is disclosed. The process involves suspension of the antibodies at pH 3.8 to 4.5 followed by addition of caprylic acid and a pH shift to pH 5.0 to 5.2. A precipitate of contaminating proteins, lipids and caprylate forms and is removed, while the majority of the antibodies remain in solution. Sodium caprylate is again added to a final concentration of not less than about 15 mM. This solution is incubated for 1 hour at 25&#xb0; C. to affect viral inactivation. A precipitate (mainly caprylate) is removed and the clear solution is diluted with purified water to reduce ionic strength. Anion exchange chromatography using two different resins is utilized to obtain an exceptionally pure IgG with subclass distribution similar to the starting distribution. The method maximizes yield and produces a gamma globulin with greater than 99% purity. The resin columns used to obtain a high yield of IgG retain IgM and IgA. IgA and IgM may be eluted from these resins in high yield and purity.

Purification of &agr;-1 proteinase inhibitor (&agr;-1 PI) from aqueous solutions, such as human plasma, is accomplished by precipitation of contaminating proteins from the aqueous solution, followed by dilution of the solution to adjust its conductivity, and passing of the solution through an anion exchange resin. The conductivity of the solution is adjusted so that the &agr;-1 PI binds to the anion exchange resin, while other contaminating proteins and solvent pass through the resin. Further purification may be accomplished by cation chromatography, which takes advantage of the fact that &agr;-1 PI does not bind to the cation column under certain conditions. Some embodiments of the invention also include virus removal and/or inactivation by methods such as nanofiltration and such as contact with a non-ionic detergent. The methods of the present invention result in greater yield, purity, and pathogenic clearance of plasma fractions than known methods.

Method of preparing &agr;-1 proteinase inhibitor

An improved process for the purification of antibodies from human plasma or other sources is disclosed. The process involves suspension of the antibodies at pH 3.8 to 4.5 followed by addition of caprylic acid and a pH shift to pH 5.0 to 5.2. A precipitate of contaminating proteins, lipids and caprylate forms and is removed, while the majority of the antibodies remain in solution. Sodium caprylate is again added to a final concentration of not less than about 15 mM. This solution is incubated for 1 hour at 25&deg; C. to effect viral inactivation. A precipitate (mainly caprylate) is removed and the clear solution is diluted with purified water to reduce ionic strength. Anion exchange chromatography using two different resins is utilized to obtain an exceptionally pure IgG with subclass distribution similar to the starting distribution. The method maximizes yield and produces a gamma globulin with greater than 99% purity. The resin columns used to obtain a high yield of IgG, retain IgM and IgA, respectively. IgA and IgM may be eluted in high yield and purity.

An improved process for the purification of antibodies from human plasma or other sources is disclosed. The process involves suspension of the antibodies at pH 3.8 to 4.5 followed by addition of caprylic acid and a pH shift to pH 5.0 to 5.2. A precipitate of contaminating proteins, lipids and caprylate forms and is removed, while the majority of the antibodies remain in solution. Sodium caprylate is again added to a final concentration of not less than about 15 mM. This solution is incubated for 1 hour at 25.degree. C. to effect viral inactivation. A precipitate (mainly caprylate) is removed and the clear solution is diluted with purified water to reduce ionic strength. Anion exchange chromatography using two different resins is utilized to obtain an exceptionally pure IgG with subclass distribution similar to the starting distribution. The method maximizes yield and produces a gamma globulin with greater than 99% purity.

Chromatographic method for high yield purification and viral

Cation chromatography with solutions at pH less than 6.0 and low ionic strength can be utilized to purify human .alpha.-1 proteinase inhibitor (.alpha.-1 PI) from biological fluids including plasma and plasma fractions. The cation chromatography takes advantage of the fact that active .alpha.-1 PI does not bind to the cation column under these conditions but other proteins, including denatured .alpha.-1 PI and albumin, do. The effect is that active .alpha.-1 PI flows through the chromatography column leaving the contaminating proteins behind. Recovery of .alpha.-1 PI is high and improvement of purity is dramatic.

Growing community of inventors

Clayton, NC, United States of America

Wytold R Lebing