IE37325L - Monitoring vaccine production - Google Patents

Abstract

1414076 Preparaing viral vaccines MERCK & CO INC 1 March 1973 [6 March 1972 14 June 1972] 9978/73 Heading A5B [Also in Division C6] In processes for the controlled manufacture of a virus for human and animal vaccines by replicating virus on sheets of tissue cells in a liquid nutrient medium and harvesting the virus produced, real-time assays are performed to monitor glucose utilisation until the glucose concentration in the medium has decreased to a level in the range 20-60 mg/100 cc, the cell sheet is infected with the desired virus when the foregoing glucose concentration is reached, and then real-time assays are performed to monitor the level of isocitric dehydrogenase in the medium and the virus is harvested when the level of isocitric dehyrogenase has reached the maximum rate of change, whereby the virus is harvested at its maximum titre. According to a modification in processes for the controlled manufacture of tissue cells real-time assays are performed to monitor glucose utilization until the glucose concentration in the medium has decreased to a level in the range 5-15 mg/100 cc and the cells are then harvested, whereby the cell harvest is maximised. Examples 1 to 4 are directed to the propugation of mumps, measles or rubella virus in chick or duck embryo cells. In certain of these the use of glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase assays is disclosed in connection with achieving maximum titre of virus (c.f. the isocitric dehydrogenase assays given above). Examples 5 to 7 are directed to the culturing of WI-33, chick embryo and duck embryo cells, respectively. [GB1414076A]