Method for Inactivating Viruses With Slightly Acidic Arginine

A method for inactivating lipid-enveloped viruses present in a protein formulation comprising:

• A) preparing an aqueous solution comprising 0.1 to 2 M of arginine, an arginine derivative, or a mixture thereof, and
• B) exposing a protein formulation contaminated with one or more lipid-enveloped viruses to an amount of the aqueous solution sufficient to inactivate the lipid-enveloped viruses, wherein the pH of the resultant solution is in the range of between 4 and 5.

A method for inactivating lipid-enveloped viruses on the surface of a solid object comprising:

• A) preparing an aqueous solution comprising 0.1 to 2 M of arginine, an arginine derivative, or a mixture thereof, wherein the pH of the solution is in the range of between 4 and 5, and
• B) contacting a virus-contaminated solid object with an amount of the aqueous solution sufficient to inactivate the lipid-enveloped viruses by a method selected from the group consisting of spraying the virus-contaminated solid object with the aqueous solution, coating the virus-contaminated solid object with the aqueous solution, and combination thereof.