Pamela Brown Burke

US Patent:

56230575, Apr 22, 1997

Filed:

May 20, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/246394

Inventors:

Stephen Marburg - Metuchen NJ
Richard L. Tolman - Warren NJ
Peter J. Kniskern - Lansdale PA
William J. Miller - North Wales PA
Arpi Hagopian - Lansdale PA
Charlotte C. Ip - Blue Bell PA
John P. Hennessey - Dublin PA
Dennis J. Kubek - Salem WV
Pamela D. Burke - Lansdale PA

Assignee:

Merck & Co., Inc. - Rahway NJ

International Classification:

C07K 1702
A61K 39385

US Classification:

530404

Abstract:

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.