Varicella vaccine and process for its preparation
AssigneeMerck & Co., Inc.
InventorsMaurice R. Hilleman, Eugene B. Buynak, Beverly J. Neff
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Abstract
Preparation of safe, live, attenuated varicella virus vaccine by serial propagation of varicella virus in tissue cell culture systems.
Claims20
A process for the preparation of a live attenuated, cell-free varicella virus useful as an antigen in a vaccine, which will evoke in man an antibody response against a virulent varicella virus without causing the severe clinical manifestations of the disease which comprises serially passaging the virulent virus from about 10 to about 80 times at 30.degree.-38.degree. C. in a tissue culture preparation selected from the group consisting of human and animal diploid cell strains and primary cells of simian origin to attenuate the virus followed by release of the attenuated virus from the infected cell by sonication in the presence of a stabilizer comprising sucrose, albumin, glutamine and phosphate.
A live, attenuated cell-free varicella vaccine comprising an immunologically effective amount of a live attenuated cell-free varicella virus prepared by the process of serially passaging the virulent virus from about 10 to about 80 times at 30.degree.-38.degree. C. in a tissue culture preparation selected from the group consisting of human and animal diploid cell strains and primary cells of simian origin to attenuate the virus followed by release of the attenuated virus from the infected cell by sonication in the presence of a stabilizer comprising sucrose, albumin, glutamine and phosphate in combination with a carrier comprising sterile water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.