Method of producing a virus-safe biological preparation

Abstract

In a method of producing a virus-safe biological preparation by heating while preserving a least 50% of its biologic activity, a biologially compatible tenside is added to the preparation before heating and heating is carried out in the presence of the same, whereupon the tenside, preferably, is eliminated.

Description

This invention relates to a method of producing a virus-safe biological preparation by heating while preserving a least 50% of its biologic activity, as well as the use of the method for increasing the virus safety of a biological preparation.

By biological preparations, preparations of biological origin that may be obtained, for instance, from body liquids, such as blood, or from cell cultures, are understood. With products of this type, there is the danger of getting contaminated by infectious agents upon contact with potentially infectious material.

The risk of transmission of viruses by blood products is known. By blood products, products of human or animal blood or plasma are understood, which are intended for therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic application. Such products may contain enzymes, proenzymes including coagulation factors, enzyme inhibitors, immunoglobulins, albumin, plasminogen, fibrinogen, fibronectin or plasma.

There is available comprehensive literature dealing with the inactivation of infectious agents by heating of blood products. The various methods comprise:

heating of blood products in aqueous solutions in the presence of stabilizing agents, heating of blood products in the dry state, heating of blood products in the solid wet state.

In all of these inactivation methods, it is sought to eliminate the potential infectivity of the preparations, yet to largely maintain their biologic activity.

By heating the blood products, both membrane-enveloped and non-enveloped viruses are attacked. This constitutes an essential advantage over those methods which are based on the membrane-solubilizing effect only of tensides and, if desired, of organic solvents.

A method of treating biological and pharmaceutical products by treatment with amphiphils (tensides) at a temperature of between 4.degree. C. and 37.degree. C. is described in EP-0 050 061. This treatment aims at inactivating hepatitis-B viruses and non-A, non-B hepatitis viruses (enveloped).

Likewise, according to the method of EP-0 278 487, aqueous protein solutions are mixed with up to 2 g/100 ml of a non-ionic detergent and subsequently are incubated at a low temperature, for instance, at 4.degree. C., until a virus-inactivating effect has been obtained.

However, this treatment with detergents has the disadvantage that it merely affects enveloped viruses: If a tenside is present at a concentration above the micell-forming concentration (CMC), lipid-containing membranes are solubilized and the virus is inactivated. By contrast, viruses that do not have lipid-containing membranes per se, such as, e.g., hepatitis-A virus, yet may be enclosed in lipid vesicles, are liberated by tenside treatment and hence are activated rather than inactivated (cf. Manucci PM et al. (1992), The Lancet 339, 819 "Outbreak of Hepatitis A among Italian Patients with Haemophilia").

According to EP-0 124 044, a surface active agent is added to a fibronectin-containing solution in an amount of from 0.01 to 0.5% by weight, together with a polyol and a chelating agent, the solution being heated at a temperature ranging between 50.degree. and 70.degree. C. The low amount of surfactant protects fibronectin from denaturation by shearing forces.

Likewise, detergents are added to blood plasma as solubilizers, together with virus-inactivating agents (glycyrrhizic triterpenoid compounds), the plasma being maintained at a temperature of up to 60.degree. C. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,945). In order to obtain the desired surface-active effect, very small amounts of non-ionic detergents are used, for instance, concentrations ranging between 0.001 and 5% by weight. The advantage of using such small amounts of detergent resides in that the latter need not be eliminated.

Furthermore, it is described in EP-0 131 740 that a method of inactivating viruses in a solution containing organic solvents may be carried out at a temperature ranging between 0.degree. and 70.degree. C. In doing so, 0.001 to 10% by weight of detergents are employed as wetting agents. However, it is necessary to stabilize the labile proteins when heating the solution. Thus, not only the labile proteins, but also the virus components are stabilized.

The method described in EP-0 159 311 has proved to be successful as a heat treatment of blood products in the solid state. Therein, blood products are lyophilized, are adjusted to a content of water, methanol or ethanol of more than 5% by weight and less than 70% by weight, and are heated to temperatures ranging between 50.degree. and 121.degree. C. in closed containers. This method kills even resistant viruses, such as vaccinia virus. In this case, virus inactivation proceeds very slowly such that a very long heating time and a very high temperature have to be applied.

To enhance the effectiveness of that method, the method according to EP-0 324 729 has been proposed. Therein, blood products are heated in the solid wet state in the presence of organic compounds. The portion of water, to the major extent, remains physically bound to the blood product, while the organic compound is present in the atmosphere in gaseous form. Suitable organic compounds are ethanol, ethyl acetate, diethyl ether, chloroform and the like. After inactivation has been completed, the organic compounds must be separated from the blood products. The improved method causes the vaccinia virus to be inactivated already after few hours of heating at 60.degree. C.

A method of inactivating viruses in a product adsorbed on a solid phase is described in EP-0 197 554. The adsorbed product is contacted with a virus-inactivating agent, whereupon the solid phase is separated and washed. Finally, the product is desorbed again. Among others, an amphiphilic substance is described as the virus-inactivating agent, which may be anionic, cationic, zwitterionic and non-ionic. However, treatment can be effected at a temperature of from 0.degree. to 50.degree. C. only.

It is the object of the invention to provide a method of producing a virus-safe preparation containing a labile protein by heating, whose efficiency is enhanced as compared to hitherto known heat treatments, the biologic activity of the preparation being substantially preserved.

Resistant viruses, such as vaccinia virus, are to be inactivated as rapidly and completely as possible in order not to unnecessarily reduce the biologic activity of the preparation.

In accordance with the invention, this object is achieved by a method of producing a virus-safe biological preparation by heating while preserving at least 50% of its biologic activity, which method is characterized in that a tenside is added to the preparation before heating and heating is carried out in the presence of said tenside, whereupon said tenside, preferably, is eliminated. It has been shown that the addition of a tenside to the preparation before the heat treatment will increase the effectiveness in a synergistic manner without substantially reducing the biologic activity of the preparation. After the heat treatment, the tenside is separated from the preparation.

Suitable tensides primarily are biologically compatible anionic, cationic, non-ionic or zwitterionic amphiphils. In general, tensides are considered as biologically compatible if at the concentration used they do not lyse erythrocytes in a standardized in vitro test (cf. Pape et al., Arzneim.-Forsch./Drug. Res. 40, 498-502, 1990).

There may be used, for instance, tensides of the following groups:

polyoxyethylene sorbitane esters (Tween.RTM. compounds), alkylphenolpolyethylene glycol ethers or their formaldehyde polymers (Triton.RTM. compounds), polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block polymers (Pluronic.RTM. compounds), alkyl glycosides, such as, e.g., octyl-.beta.-D glucoside, acid amide derivatives, such as, e.g., decanoyl-N-methyl glucamide (MEGA-10), anionic tensides, such as, e.g., sodium desoxycholate, cationic tensides, such as, e.g., benzyltrimethyl-ammonium chloride or benzyldimethyl-2-hy droxy ethyl-ammoniumchloride, and zwitterionic tensides, such as, e.g., N-docecyl-N',N-dimethylammonio-3-propane sulfonate (sulfobetain SB12).

The tenside is added at a high concentration according to a tenside/protein ratio of at least 1:100, preferably of from 2:100 to 300:100, if the treatment of the preparation is carried out in its liquid or solid form. If the preparation has been adsorbed on a solid carrier and the heat treatment according to the invention is carried out on the solid carrier, treatment may be effected at even higher tenside concentrations of, for instance, up to 98% by weight.

Likewise, the invention comprises a method of increasing the virus safety of a biological preparation by preserving at least 50%, preferably 80%, of the biologic activity, in particular of the virus safety relative to enveloped and non-enveloped viruses, wherein the preparation is heated in the presence of a tenside at a concentration of at least 1% by weight, preferably more than 10% by weight, up to 98% by weight.

Although virus inactivation by means of tensides has been described in the prior art only as being effective against enveloped viruses, the desired effect also may be obtained in respect of non-membrane-enveloped viruses if the method according to the invention is carried out.

The present method is, of course, also suited to inactivate virus aggregates or vesicular structures harboring viruses, for instance, hepatitis-A viruses.

A substantial denaturation of proteins in the product heated according to the invention cannot be observed. Surprisingly, heat-labile proteins were even stabilized by the presence of tensides. The method according to the invention surprisingly is suitable for stabilizing a biological preparation mostly containing heat-labile proteins, during heat treatment. The preservation of the biologic activity during heat treatment is important primarily with such heat-labile proteins. Treatment of heat-stable preparations, for instance, of an albumin preparation, is less critical, though. Consequently, the invention primarily is related to a method of producing a preparation containing heat-labile proteins, except for an albumin preparation.

According to the invention, preparations can be produced in the first place, that contain labile plasmatic proteins, such as factors of coagulation, fibrinolysis and thrombolysis, or proenzymes and enzymes, or inhibitors thereof.

The heat treatment according to the invention, of the preparation in question preferably is carried out in the solid state, yet it also may take place in an aqueous solution or in suspension.

A preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention is carried out in that the tenside is added to the preparation in solution, whereupon the latter is lyophilized and is heated in the lyophilized state, the heating in this case being feasible at substantially higher temperatures. The heating advantageously is effected in the solid wet state, e.g., in the lyophilized preparation having a water content of more than 5% by weight and less than 70% by weight, in a closed container at a temperature ranging between 50.degree. and 121.degree. C. for at least 10 minutes, until the potential infectivity of the preparation has been eliminated, preferably 1 to 30 hours at 60.degree. to 80.degree. C.

It is also possible to heat an aqueous solution containing blood coagulation factor XIII in accordance with the invention without using conventional stabilizers.

Heat treatment in solution or suspension is carried out at a temperature of from 55.degree. to 65.degree. C., preferably at about 60.degree. C., and for a period of time sufficient to inactivate possibly present viruses, preferably for 2 minutes to 100 hours. Most preferred is a treatment time of 30 minutes to 30 hours. The time required to carry out the method according to the invention can be determined in a preliminary assay by means of model viruses, such as, Human Immunodeficiency, Sindbis, polio, TBE and vaccinia viruses. A virus added prior to heating must not be detectable after heating.

The preparation obtained is characterized by a low portion of denaturation products, since despite heating at least 50%, preferably at least 80%, of the biologic activity of the preparation remains preserved. It could be observed that no turbidity occured in a solution of the preparation as usually does upon heating of highly concentrated preparations. The absorbance E.sub.600 of the preparation heated according to the invention in a solution having a protein content of at least 5% by weight is less than 0.1 (at a light path of 1 cm, reference: water). As a result, an optically clear product in solution, largely free of denaturation substances is, thus, obtained.

It has been proved that the addition of a solubilizer prior to heating of a solution in accordance with the invention is advantageous. A factor XIII-containing solution may, for instance, be mixed with arginine in order to enhance the effect of the tenside action on the reduction of turbidity formation.

The addition of conventional stabilizers, such as, e.g., polyols and/or aminoacids or derivatives thereof, may be largely avoided. This has the advantage that virus inactivation proceeds more quickly and the effectiveness of the heat treatment is considerably enhanced. Besides, the elimination of conventional stabilizers is cumbersome and, thus, can be avoided.

Due to the excellent virucidal activity of the highly concentrated tensides, the use of organic solvents may be avoided. Therefore, the preparation treated in accordance with the invention does not contain any toxic traces of organic solvents.

A further embodiment of the method according to the invention comprises the addition of carbohydrates to the biological preparation, the hydration of proteins present, thus, being ensured even after lyophilization. Thus, it is possible to admix, e.g., sucrose or sorbitol in order to hydrate proteins in the preparation.

According to another aspect of the invention, the virus-inactivating heat treatment is performed at a preparation adsorbed on a solid carrier, the adsorbed preparation being suspended in a solution of a tenside during heating. After heating, the virus-inactivated preparation can be separated from the carrier in a known manner. Blood factors, such as factors of the prothrombin complex, are adsorbed, for instance, on an ion exchanger or on an affinity matrix and are suspended in an aqueous solution in the presence of high tenside concentrations and heated.

Preferably, the tenside may be separated from the preparation by suitable measures, such as dialysis, chromatographic purification methods (e.g., by ion exchange chromatography) or protein precipitation. The treated preparation may, for instance, be adsorbed on a solid carrier and washed free of tensides. Precipitation of the proteins to be prepared by means of precipitating agents, such as ethanol, ammonium-sulfate or polyethyleneglycol, liquid phase extraction or phase separation by the addition of specific substances, such as mixtures of salts and polyethyleneglycol or soluble dextran, as well as solid phase extraction of tenside on C18 material (reversed phase chromatography) are similarly suitable methods for separating from the preparation at least the major portion of tenside. By appropriate tenside-eliminating measures for removing the tenside, the tenside concentration in the preparation preferably is reduced to less than 0.1% by weight, most preferably less than 0.01% by weight.

The enhanced effect of a heat treatment due to the presence of tensides is surprising. From EP-0 345 246 it is known to add a tenside to a tissue adhesive lyophilisate merely to shorten its time of reconstitution. In doing so, very small concentrations of tensides that proved to be toxicologically safe are used. The tenside either is incorporated into the lyophilisate or is added to the lyophilisate to be dissolved. Thus, the tenside remains in the lyophilized preparation and is not separated, but rather added to the preparation. As a result, the solubility of the lyophilisate is considerably improved, measured by the reconstitution time. No enhanced virus-inactivating effect is observed.

The enhanced effect of a heat treatment can be demonstrated if very small amounts of tenside are used in an aqueous solution, which have no inactivating effect on viruses per se. Thus, a virus titer can be adjusted in the presence of tensides, but is eliminated only by way of heat treatment.

The synergistic effect of the method according to the invention becomes apparent by comparing the kinetics of virus inactivation by way of heat treatment with and without a content of tenside in the preparation. Model viruses, such as vaccinia virus, Sindbis virus or SIV (Simian immunodeficiency virus), are inactivated more quickly in the presence of inherently ineffective amounts of tensides during the heat treatment of blood products in the solid wet state than during the same heat treatment of the preparation without tenside content. Under appropriate conditions, model viruses added to the preparation will be killed already after 10 minutes, and certainly after one hour, of heat treatment according to the invention.

The synergistic effect of tensides during a heat treatment was not to be expected. In fact, the solubilizing effect of tensides on membrane proteins is largely independent of the temperature prevailing. In the technical field, there has been the opinion that a given concentration of a tenside is either virus-inactivating or not, irrespective of the temperature.

Even though a synergistic effect, depending on the method, can be observed only if a tenside concentration has no virus-inactivating activity per se (at a concentration of below CMC), of course this effect also occurs at elevated tenside concentrations.

The invention will be explained in more detail by way of the following examples:

EXAMPLE 1

Heat treatment of a factor VIII preparation in the presence of octyl-.beta.-D-glucoside.

A factor VIII-containing preparation was produced according to AT-351 808.

2.7 ml of a solution of this factor VIII-containing preparation (30 mg protein/ml) were mixed with 0.3 ml of a vaccinia virus suspension and 0, 3 and 15 mg octyl gluocoside were added to the solution (0, 0.1, 0.5% by weight). The ratio of tenside to protein was 4:100 and 19:100, respectively. The mixture was lyophilized, adjusted to a water content of 30% by weight, 20% by weight, 10% by weight and <1% by weight (dry), respectively, and heated at 60.degree. C. for 10 hours. The virus titer was each determined after 0, 1, 3 and 10 hours. Likewise, the specific activity of factor VIII was determined before and after heat treatment. The results of virus inactivation as well as the residual activites after heat treatments are indicated in Table 1.

The tenside was eliminated by chromatographic purification of factor VIII using an anion exchanger.

EXAMPLE 2

Heat treatment of a factor VIII preparation in the presence of Triton.RTM. X-100.

2.7 ml of the factor VIII-containing solution of Example 1 were mixed with 0.3 ml of a vaccinia virus suspension, and 15 mg Triton.RTM. X-100 (0.5% by weight) were added to the solution. The ratio of tenside to protein was 19:100. The solution was lyophilized and a water content of 20% by weight was adjusted. After this, heat treatment was effected at 60.degree. C. The virus titer was determined after 0, 1, 3 and 10 hours. Likewise, the specific activity of factor VIII was determined. Virus inactivation and residual activities are apparent from Table 2.

The tenside was eliminated by chromatographic purification of factor VIII using an anion exchanger.

EXAMPLE 3

Heat treatment of a plasminogen preparation in the presence of Zwittergent.RTM. 3-10

1.8 ml of a solution containing lys-plasminogen, produced according to the method of AT-390 801, was mixed with 0.2 ml of a vaccinia virus suspension and 10 mg Zwittergent.RTM. 3-10 (0.5% by weight) were added to the solution. The ratio of tenside to protein was 1:100. The mixture was lyophilized and adjusted to a water content of 15% by weight. After this, it was heated to 60.degree. C. and the virus titer was determined after 0, 1, 3 and 10 hours of heat treatment. Likewise, the specific activity before and after heat treatment was determined. The results are indicated in Table 3.

The tenside was eliminated by dialysis.

EXAMPLE 4

Heat treatment of a prothrombin complex preparation in the presence of Tween 80

A prothrombin complex factor preparation was produced according to the method of Brummelhuis ("Methods of Plasma Protein Fractionation", J. M. Curling (ed.), p. 117 et seq., Acad. Press, 1980). 1.35 ml of a solution of this preparation was mixed with 0.15 ml of a Sindbis virus suspension and 75 mg Tween 80 were added to the solution (3% by weight). The ratio of tenside to protein was 5:100. The mixture was lyophilized and a water content of 9% by weight was adjusted. Heat treatments were effected at 60.degree. C. and at 80.degree. C. The virus titers were determined after 0, 1, 3 and 10 hours of heat treatment at 60.degree. C. as well as after another hour of heat treatment at 80.degree. C. and, in a separate run, after 20, 40 and 60 minutes at 80.degree. C. The specific activity was determined before and after heat treatment, the results being indicated in Table 4.

The tenside was eliminated by chromatographic purification of the prothrombin complex using an anion exchanger.

EXAMPLE 5

Heat treatment of a fibrinogen preparation in the presence of MEGA-10.

Plasma was fractionated according to Cohn and a Cohn I fraction containing fibrinogen was produced. 1.8 ml of a solution of this fraction was mixed with 0.2 ml of a vaccinia virus suspension and decanoyl-N-methyl glucamide (MEGA-10) was added to the solution such that its concentration in the solution was 0.2% by weight. The ratio of tenside to protein was 2.5:100. The mixture was lyophilized and a water content of 10% by weight was adjusted. The lyophilisate was heated to 60.degree. C. for 10 hours, subsequently to 80.degree. C. for 3 hours and, in a separate run, to 80.degree. C. for 3 hours. The virus titer was determined after 0, 1, 3 and 10 hours of heating (60.degree. C.) as well as after another 3 hours (80.degree. C.). Likewise, the virus titer was determined after 1, 2 and 3 hours of heating (80.degree. C.). The specific activity of fibrinogen was determined as the clottable protein per volume unit before and after heat treatment. The results are indicated in Table 5.

The tenside was eliminated by precipitation of fibrinogen with glycine.

EXAMPLE 6

Heat treatment of a thrombin preparation in the presence of 0.5% octyl-.beta.-D-glucoside.

A thrombin preparation was produced according to the method of Austrian Patent Application A 2183/91.

1.8 ml of a solution of this thrombin preparation was mixed with 0.2 ml of a SIV suspension and 10 mg octyl glucoside were added to the solution (0.5% by weight). The ratio of tenside to protein was 10:100. The mixture was lyophilized and a water content of 10% by weight was adjusted. Heat treatment was effected at a temperature of 60.degree. C. The specific activity was determined before and after heat treatment. The virus titer was each determined after 0, 1, 3, 6 and 10 hours of heat treatment. The results are indicated in Table 6.

The tenside was eliminated by chromatographic purification of thrombin on an anion exchanger.

EXAMPLE 7

Heat treatment of a C1-esterase inhibitor preparation in the presence of 0.5% octyl-.beta.-D-glucoside.

A C1-esterase inhibitor preparation was produced according to the method of Vogelaar et al. (1973) Vox Sang. 26, 118-127.

1.8 ml of a solution of this preparation was mixed with 0.2 ml of a vaccinia virus suspension and 10 mg octyl glucoside (0.5 by weight) were added to the solution. The ratio of tenside to protein was 125:100. The mixture was lyophilized, a water content of 15% by weight was adjusted and it was heated to 60.degree. C. The virus titer was each determined after 0, 1, 3, 6 and 10 hours of heat treatment. The specific activity was determined before and after heat treatment. The results are indicated in Table 7.

The C1-esterase inhibitor was adsorbed on DEAE-Sephadex and washed free of tenside with a buffer.

The results of the assays represented in Tables 1 to 7 clearly demonstrate that substantially increased rates of inactivation of viruses are obtained when applying the method according to the invention as compared to heat treatments without tenside.

The different detection limits of the virus titers in the methods compared result from the choice of the detection method implied by the presence of tensides. Howe er, these different detection limits are of no relevance in this context.

TABLE 1__________________________________________________________________________Inactivation of vaccinia virus in a factor VIII-containingpreparation by heat treatment in the presence of octyl glucoside Water Content in Lyophilisate 30% 20% 10% dry__________________________________________________________________________Time of heat 0 1 3 10 0 1 3 10 0 1 3 10 0 1 3 10treatmentat 60.degree. C. (h)0.5%OctylglucosideVirus titer n.d.* n.d. n.d. n.d. 10.sup.4.4 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 10.sup.6.4 10.sup.4.2 10.sup.3.7 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 10.sup.6.9 10.sup.6.7 10.sup.6.6 10.sup.6.5(ml.sup.-1)Spec. activity n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 24.5 n.d. n.d. 14.9 25.8 n.d. n.d. 20.6 31.5 n.d. n.d. 28.5(U/ml)0.1%OctylglucosideVirus titer 10.sup.6.9 10.sup.4.6 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 10.sup.7.1 10.sup.4.6 10.sup.3.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 10.sup.7.2 10.sup.6.4 10.sup.6.0 10.sup.6.2 10.sup.7.6 10.sup.7.2 10.sup.7.4 10.sup.7.5(ml.sup.-1)Spec. activity 25.8 n.d. n.d. 13.4 27.8 n.d. n.d. 16.5 26.4 n.d. n.d. 16.1 37.7 n.d. n.d. 30.2(U/ml)NoOctylglucosideVirus titer 10.sup.7.2 10.sup.6.6 10.sup.4.5 10.sup.4.5 10.sup.6.2 10.sup.7.5 10.sup.5.9 10.sup.5.7 10.sup.6.9 10.sup.6.7 10.sup.7.6 10.sup.7.0 10.sup.7.2 10.sup.7.0 10.sup.7.5 10.sup.7.1(ml.sup.-1)Spec. activity 38 n.d. n.d. 20.2 28.5 n.d. n.d. 21.7 27.7 n.d. n.d. 21.0 30.5 n.d. n.d. 28.7(U/ml)__________________________________________________________________________ *)n.d. . . . not determined TABLE 2______________________________________Inactivation of vaccinia virus in a factor VIII-containing preparation by heat treatment in thepresence of Triton.sup.R X-100______________________________________Time of heat treatment 0 1 3 10at 60.degree. C. (h)0.5% Triton.sup.R X-100Virus titer 10.sup.5.0 .ltoreq.10.sup.3.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.3.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.3.5(ml.sup.-1)Spec. activity 25.8 n.d.* n.d. 22.9(U/ml)Without Triton.sup.R X-100Virus titer 10.sup.6.1 10.sup.6.0 10.sup.5.0 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5(ml.sup.-1)Spec. activity 25.7 n.d. n.d. 20.6(U/ml)______________________________________ *)n.d. . . . not determined TABLE 3______________________________________Inactivation of vaccinia virus in aplasminogen preparation by heat treatmentin the presence of Zwittergent.sup.R 3-10______________________________________Time of heat treatment 0 1 3 10at 60.degree. C. (h)With ZwittergentVirus titer 10.sup.3.4 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5(ml.sup.-1)Spec. activity 487 n.d.* n.d. 287(.mu.mol ml.sup.-1 min.sup.-1)Without ZwittergentVirus titer 10.sup.6.1 10.sup.5.9 10.sup.4.9 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5(ml.sup.-1)Spec. activity 460 n.d. n.d. 410(.mu.mol ml.sup.-1 min.sup.-1)______________________________________ *)n.d. . . . not determined TABLE 4__________________________________________________________________________Inactivation of vaccinia virus in a prothrombin complex preparationby heat treatment in the presence of Tween 80 60.degree. C. 60 + 80.degree. C. 80.degree. C.__________________________________________________________________________Time of heat 0 h 1 h 3 h 10 h 10 + 1 h 20 min 40 min 60 mintreatmentWith Tween 80Virus titer 10.sup.3.4 .ltoreq.10.sup.2.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.2.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.2.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.2.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.2.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.2.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.2.5(ml.sup.-1)Spec. activity 209 n.d.* n.d. n.d. 176 n.d. n.d. n.d.(U F IX/ml)Without Tween 80Virus titer 10.sup.5.1 10.sup.3.7 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 10.sup.1.7 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5(ml.sup.-1)Spec. activity 204 n.d. n.d. n.d. 192.8 n.d. n.d. n.d.(U F IX/ml)__________________________________________________________________________ *)n.d. . . . not determined TABLE 5__________________________________________________________________________Inactivation of vaccinia virus in a fibrinogen preparation byheat treatment in the presence of MEGA-10 60.degree. C. 60 + 80.degree. C. 80.degree. C.__________________________________________________________________________Time of heat treatment 0 1 3 10 10 + 3 1 2 3(h)With tensideVirus titer 10.sup.6.4 10.sup.6.7 10.sup.6.4 10.sup.5.9 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 10.sup.4.4 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5(ml.sup.-1)Spec. activity 100 n.d.* n.d. n.d. 90 n.d. n.d. n.d.(%)Without tensideVirus titer 10.sup.5.9 10.sup.4.9 10.sup.5.0 10.sup.4.4 .ltoreq.10.sup.0.5 10.sup.3.4 10.sup.2.1 .ltoreq.10.sup.0.5(ml.sup.-1)Spec. activity 100 n.d. n.d. n.d. 100 n.d. n.d. n.d.(%)__________________________________________________________________________ *)n.d. . . . not determined TABLE 6______________________________________Inactivation of SIV in a thrombin preparationby heat treatment in the presence of octyl-.beta.-D-glucoside______________________________________Time of heat treatment 0 1 3 6 10at 60.degree. C. (h)With tensideVirus titer 10.sup.2.2 10.sup.2.0 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5(ml.sup.-1)Spec. activity 1057 n.d.* n.d. n.d. 1063(.mu.mol ml.sup.-1 min.sup.-1)Without tensideVirus titer 10.sup.3.5 10.sup.1.5 10.sup.0.6 .ltoreq.10.sup.0.6 .ltoreq.10.sup.0.6(ml.sup.-1)Spec. activity 927 n.d. n.d. n.d. 1075(.mu.mol ml.sup.-1 min.sup.-1)______________________________________ *)n.d. . . . not determined TABLE 7______________________________________Inactivation of vaccinia virus in a Cl-esteraseinhibitor preparation by heat treatment in thepresence of octyl-.beta.-D-glucoside______________________________________Time of heat treatment 0 1 3 6 10at 60.degree. C. (h)With tensideVirus titer 10.sup.3.0 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5(ml.sup.-1)Spec. activity 40 n.d.* n.d. n.d. 31(U/ml)Without tensideVirus titer 10.sup.6.4 10.sup.1.7 10.sup.0.6 10.sup.0.6 .ltoreq.10.sup.0.5(ml.sup.-1)Spec. activity 39 n.d. n.d. n.d. 35(U/ml)______________________________________ *)n.d. . . . not determined

EXAMPLE 8

Heat treatment of activated prothrombin complex (FEIBA) bound to an ion exchanger in the presence of Tween-80 (inactivation of vaccinia virus).

15 mg DEAE-Sephadex A-50 (Pharmacia) were incubated for 15 minutes at room temperature with 1 ml of a solution of 30 g/l NaCl in water for swelling. After this, the gel was separated from the swelling precipitate by centrifugation. Subsequently, there were five washings of the gel with 1 ml buffer each (9 g/l Na.sub.2 HPO.sub.4.2H.sub.2 O, 7 g/l NaCl, pH 7.0) and two further washings with buffers (7 g/l Na.sub.3 citrate. 2H.sub.2 O, 7 g/l NaCl), resuspension and centrifugation being carried out again.

30 ml fresh frozen human citrated plasma were thawed at 0.degree. to +4.degree. C. and the cryoprecipitate incurred was separated by centrifugation at +2.degree. C. The resulting "cryosupernatant" was incubated with the washed DEAE-Sephadex, FEIBA being generated and adsorbed on the gel together with the factors of the prothrombin complex and inert protein. After this, the co-adsorbed inert protein was eliminated from the DEAE-gel by washing with a buffer (9 g/l Na.sub.2 HPO.sub.4.2H.sub.2 O, 7 g/l NaCl).

The buffer-moist gel-protein complex then was suspended with 1 ml undiluted Tween-80 at 60.degree. C. for 10 minutes, 0.1 ml of a vaccinia virus suspension having been added before. The virus titer was determined after 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 minutes. The suspension of the gel-protein complex in Tween-80 then was diluted to 1:10 with a solution of 30 g/l NaCl in water. In doing so, the active substance was eluted from the gel. The tenside was removed from this solution in a known manner by adsorption with Extracti-Gel.TM.D Detergent Removing Gel (Pierce). The solution was then dialyzed against distilled water, frozen and lyophilized. After reconstitution of the lyophilisate, the FEIB activity was determined according to AT-350726.

A likewisely produced FEIBA preparation mixed with virus, yet not treated with hot tenside as well as a preparation without tenside and heat treatment served as controls.

The results of the analysis are apparent from Table 8.

TABLE 8__________________________________________________________________________Heat treatment of activated prothrombin complex (FEIBA)bound to ion exchanger in the presence of Tween-80 (vaccinia) Treatment time (min) Eluate after 2 4 6 8 10 lyophilization__________________________________________________________________________With Tween 80Virus titer .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 n.d.(ml.sup.-1)Activity n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 20(U/ml)Without Tween 80Virus titer 10.sup.4.0 10.sup.3.1 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 n.d.(ml.sup.-1)Activity n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 5(U/ml)Without Tween 80and heat treatmentVirus titer n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 10.sup.5.3 n.d.(ml.sup.-1)Activity n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 24(U/ml)__________________________________________________________________________ n.d. . . . not determined

EXAMPLE 9

Heat treatment of activated prothrombin complex (FEIBA) bound to an ion exchanger in the presence of Tween-80 (inactivation of TBE viruses).

FEIBA was produced in a manner analogous to Example 8. Yet, 0.1 ml of a TBE virus suspension was added for treatment of the buffer-moist gel-protein complex with undiluted Tween-80. The virus titer was determined after 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 10 minutes. The FEIB activity in the eluate was determined as described in Example 8.

A likewisely produced FEIBA preparation mixed with virus, yet not treated with tenside, as well as a like preparation without Tween-80 and heat treatment again served as controls.

The results of the analysis are apparent from Table 9.

TABLE 9__________________________________________________________________________Heat treatment of activated prothrombin complex (FEIBA)bound on ion exchanger in the presence of Tween 80 (TBE) Treatment time (min.) Eluate after 0.5 1 1.5 2 3 4 7 10 lyophilization__________________________________________________________________________With Tween 80Virus titer <10.sup.0 <10.sup.0 <10.sup.0 <10.sup.0 <10.sup.0 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d.(ml.sup.-1)Activity n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 20(U/ml)Without Tween 80Virus titer n.d. 10.sup.3.6 n.d. <10.sup.0 n.d. <10.sup.0 <10.sup.0 <10.sup.0 n.d.(ml.sup.-1)Activity n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 5(U/ml)Without Tween 80and heat treatmentVirus titer n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 10.sup.6.2 n.d.(ml.sup.-1)Activity n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 24(U/ml)__________________________________________________________________________ n.d. . . . not determined

EXAMPLE 10

Heat treatment of prothrombin complex bound to an ion exchanger in the presence of Tween-80 (inactivation of vaccinia viruses).

30 ml fresh frozen human citrated plasma were thawed at 0.degree. to 4.degree. C. and the cryoprecipitate incurred was separated by centrifugation at +2.degree. C. The resulting "cryosupernatant" was mixed with 2 IU heparin/ml. After this, the solution of the proteins of the prothrombin complex were adsorbed with 0.5 mg DEAE-Sephadex A-50 (Pharmacia) per milliliter. The gel-protein complex was separated from the solution and each washed with buffer 1 (4 g/l Na.sub.3 citrate.2H.sub.2 O, 7 g/l NaCl, 9 g/l Na.sub.2 HPO.sub.4.2H.sub.2 O, 500 IU heparin/l , pH 7.5) and subsequently with buffer 2 (4 g/l Na.sub.3 citrate.2H.sub.2 O/1.7 g/l NaCl, 500 IU heparin/l , pH 7.5).

The washed gel then was suspended with 1 ml Tween-80 at 60.degree. C. for 10 minutes for virus inactivation. The tenside solution was mixed with 0.1 ml of a vaccinia virus suspension. The virus titer was determined after 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 minutes. The suspension of the gel-protein complex in Tween-80 subsequently was diluted to 1:10 with a solution of 1 g/l Na.sub.3 citrate.2H.sub.2 O, 30 g/l NaCl, 1000 IU heparin/l, pH 7.9. In doing so, the prothrombin complex was eluted. The tenside was removed from this solution in a known manner by adsorption with Extracti-Gel.TM.D Detergent Removing Gel (Pierce). The solution containing the prothrombin complex was rebuffered against a buffer containing 4 g/l Na.sub.3 citrate.2H.sub.2 O and 8 g/l NaCl, pH 7.0 and lyophilized.

The protein content as well as coagulation factors II, VII, IX and X were determined in the reconstituted prothrombin complex.

A prothrombin complex produced as described above, yet without tenside treatment, and a preparation without tenside and heat treatment served as controls.

The results are apparent from Table 10.

TABLE 10__________________________________________________________________________Heat treatment of prothrombin complex bound to ion exchangerin the presence of Tween-80 (vaccinia) Eluate after lyophilization Treatment time (min.) Factor 2 4 6 8 10 II VII IX X__________________________________________________________________________With Tween 80Virus titer .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 . . . n.d. . . . . . .(ml.sup.-1)Spec. activity n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 1.8 0.3 1.3 1.4(U/mg protein)Without Tween 80Virus titer 10.sup.4.0 10.sup.3.1 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 .ltoreq.10.sup.1.5 . . . n.d. . . . . . .(ml.sup.-1)Spec. activity n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 1.9 0.3 0.7 0.6(U/mg protein)Without Tween 80and heat treatmentVirus titer n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 10.sup.5.3 . . . n.d. . . . . . .(ml.sup.-1)Spec. activity n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 1.9 0.3 2.1 1.5(U/mg protein)__________________________________________________________________________ n.d. . . . not determined

EXAMPLE 11

Heat treatment of prothrombin complex bound to ion exchanger in the presence of Tween-80 (inactivation of TBE viruses).

Prothrombin complex was produced in a manner analogous to Example 10. Yet, 0.1 ml of a TBE virus suspension was added for treatment of the buffer-moist gel protein complex with undiluted Tween-80. The virus titer was determined after 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 10 minutes. The protein content as well as coagulation factors II, VII, IX and X were determined in the reconstituted prothrombin complex.

A prothrombin complex produced as described above, yet without tenside treatment, and a preparation without tenside and heat treatment served as controls.

The results are apparent from Table 11.

TABLE 11__________________________________________________________________________Heat treatment of activated prothrombin complex bound toion exchanger in the presence of Tween-80 (TBE) Eluate after Treatment time (min) lyophilization Factor 0.5 1 1.5 2 3 4 7 10 II VII IX X__________________________________________________________________________With Tween 80Virus titer <10.sup.0 <10.sup.0 <10.sup.0 <10.sup.0 <10.sup.0 n.d. n.d. n.d. . . . n.d. . . . . . .(ml.sup.-1)Spec. activity n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 1.8 0.3 1.3 1.4(U/mg protein)Without Tween 80Virus titer n.d. 10.sup.3.6 n.d. <10.sup.0 n.d. <10.sup.0 <10.sup.0 <10.sup.0 . . . n.d. . . . . . .(ml.sup.-1)Spec. activity n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 1.9 0.3 0.7 0.6(U/mg protein)Without Tween 80and heat treatmentVirus titer n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 10.sup.6.2 . . . n.d. . . . . . .(ml.sup.-1)Spec. activity n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 1.9 0.3 2.1 1.5(U/mg protein)__________________________________________________________________________ n.d. . . . not determined

EXAMPLE 12

Stability of factor XIII when heated in a solution (without stabilizers) in the presence of a tenside.

A plasma fraction (Cohn I precipitate) was dissolved with 10 times the amount of a citrated buffer solution, pH 7.0 (13.4 g/l Na.sub.3 citrate.2H.sub.2 O, 29 g/l NaCl, 20000 KIU aprotinin/1). After addition of ammonium sulfate to 16% saturation (at room temperature) it was cooled to 4.degree. C. and the mixture was stirred for another 2 hours. The precipitate formed was dissolved with the buffer solution and precipitation with ammonium sulfate was repeated once.

The precipitate was dissolved in a citrated buffer solution, pH 7.0 (5.4 g/l Na.sub.3 citrate.2H.sub.2 O, 7 g/l NaCl, 100 KIU aprotinin/l) and heated to 56.degree. C. for 10 minutes. The precipitate formed of denaturated fibrinogen was centrifuged off. The heat precipitation supernatant was freed of accompanying proteins by precipitation with 3.5% by weight of PEG 4000 at 4.degree. C. Subsequently, factor XIII was precipitated by the addition of PEG 4000 up to a concentration of 10% by weight at 4.degree. C., separated by centrifugation and dissolved in 1/25 of the original volume of an 0.1% by weight sodium citrate buffer (pH 7.0).

The specific activity was 21 U factor XIII/mg protein. The solution was divided, one portion being mixed with 1% by weight of Tween 80. Both solutions were heated to 60.degree. C. for 6 hours. The factor XIII residual activities after 6 hours of heating were 82% without tenside added and 84% with tenside added.

EXAMPLE 13

Example 12 was repeated with various tensides in different concentrations (heating: 4 hours, 60.degree. C.).

TABLE 12______________________________________Heating of a factor XIII-containing solutionin the presence of tenside Concentration FXIII ResidualTenside % by weight Activity %______________________________________Tween 80 15 97Triton X-100 15 91Pluronic P 85 10 96______________________________________

Examples 12 and 13 demonstrate that heat treatment of factor XIII in the presence of tensides is feasible without having to take into account major losses of factor XIII activity.

Example 14 below illustrates the surprisingly enhanced inactivation kinetics of a model virus by a heat treatment in the presence of a tenside as compared to a heat treatment without tenside addition.

EXAMPLE 14

Inactivation of a model virus (Sindbis) in a factor XIII-containing solution in the presence or absence of a tenside.

A factor XIII-containing solution corresponding to Example 12 was divided, one portion being mixed with 0.3% by weight of n-octyl glucoside.

Both solutions were heated to 60.degree. C., mixed with 10% by vol. of a Sindbis virus suspension (starting of the virus inactivation reaction) and further incubated at 60.degree. C. Samples were taken at given time intervals and the virus titer was determined.

The results are summarized in Table 13 below.

TABLE 13______________________________________Virus inactivation in factor XIII-containingsolution with and without tenside at 60.degree. C.Time of heatingat 60.degree. C. (minutes) without tenside with tenside______________________________________0 8.1 8.10.5 5.75 1.881 5.0 .ltoreq.1.51.5 4.25 .ltoreq.1.52 3.88 .ltoreq.1.52.5 3.75 .ltoreq.1.53 3.25 .ltoreq.1.53.5 2.75 .ltoreq.1.54 2.63 .ltoreq.1.54.5 2.5 .ltoreq.1.55 2.38 .ltoreq.1.56 1.88 .ltoreq.1.57 2.1 .ltoreq.1.58,10,15,20,30 .ltoreq.1.5 .ltoreq.1.5______________________________________

By the addition of tenside, an even more rapid and comprehensive virus inactivation is obtained without having to take into account major losses of factor XIII activity (cf. Example 13).

Claims

1. A method of producing a virus-safe biological preparation using a tenside without using organic solvents, comprising the steps of (i) contacting said tenside with a biological preparation having a level of biological activity, wherein said tenside is present at a concentration of 1% to 98% by weight w/w (ii) heating said biological preparation having a level of biological activity to a temperature between 51.degree. C. to 121.degree. C. in the presence of said tenside, and (iii) and removing said tenside to obtain said virus-safe biological preparation that has a level of biological activity that is at least 50% of the level of biological activity of said biological preparation before said heating.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein wherein said tenside is added in an amount corresponding to a tenside concentration ranging between 2 and 98% by weight w/w.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said biological preparation of said heating step is a lyophilized preparation.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3, wherein said lyophilized preparation is adjusted to a water content of more than 5% by weight w/w and less than 70% by weight w/w and is heated in a closed container at a temperature ranging between 50.degree. to 121.degree. C. for at least 10 minutes.

5. A method as set forth in claim 4, wherein said lyophilized preparation is heated at a temperature ranging between 60.degree. to 80.degree. C. for 1 to 30 hours.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said biological preparation is present in an aqueous solution.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6, further comprising adding a solubilizing agent for proteins to said aqueous solution.

8. A method as set forth in claim 6, wherein heating of said biological preparation is carried out at a temperature ranging between 55.degree. and 65.degree. C. for a period of time sufficient to inactivate infectious agents.

9. A method as set forth in claim 8, wherein heating of said biological preparation is carried out for 2 minutes to 100 hours.

10. A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising adding a carbohydrate to said biological preparation.

11. A method as set forth in claim 10, wherein said carbohydrate is selected from the group consisting of sucrose and sorbitol.

12. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said biological preparation is adsorbed on a solid carrier and then suspended in an aqueous solution of a tenside before said heating step so as to obtain a suspension.

13. A method as set forth in claim 12, further comprising separating said virus-inactivated preparation from said solid carrier.

14. A method as set forth in claim 12, further comprising adding a solubilizing agent for proteins to said aqueous suspension.

15. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said biological preparation contains plasmatic proteins.

16. A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein said plasmatic proteins are selected from the group consisting of coagulation factors, fibrinolysis factors, thrombolysis factors and inhibitors thereof.

17. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein 80% of the biological activity of said biological preparation is preserved.

18. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said virus safety refers to inactivation of non-enveloped viruses.

19. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said biological preparation is heated in the presence of a tenside at a concentration of more than 10% by weight.

20. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein virus-safe refers to inactivation of enveloped viruses.

21. A method of increasing the efficacy of vital inactivating heat treatments without using organic solvents, comprising heating a biological preparation having a level of biological activity in the presence of a tenside at a concentration of 1% to 98% by weight (w/w) and thereafter removing said tenside, wherein said method preserves at least 50% of the level of biological activity of said biological preparation before said heating.

22. A method as set forth in claim 21, wherein said biological preparation is heated in an aqueous solution.

23. A method as set forth in claim 21, wherein said biological preparation is heated in the solid state.

24. A method as set forth in claim 21, wherein said biological preparation is heated in a suspension.