Antigen compounds

• US 4,372,945 A
• Filed: 08/03/1981
• Issued: 02/08/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1979
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vilas V. Likhite
• Original Assignee: Vilas V. Likhite
• Inventors: Likhite, Vilas V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hazel, Blondel
• Application Number:
  US06/289,138
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 424/88, 424/92, 424/85, 424/87
• US Class Current: 530/405
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2039/55511 Organic adjuvants
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2039/6037 Bacterial toxins, e.g. diphteria toxoid [DT], tetanus toxoid [TT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 39/0011 Cancer antigens
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 39/39 characterised by the immunostimulating additives, e.g. chemical adjuvants

Abstract

Antigens are provided which induce relatively large titers of antibodies. These antigens, which may comprise certain strains of microorganisms or a plant extract, can be conjugated to a second antigen by means of an organic coupling agent. The primary antigens of the invention, when chemically coupled to a secondary antigen function as immunostimulant adjuvants. When tumor cells are the secondary antigens, a means for immunotherapeutic treatment of cancer is provided.

Claims

1. An antigen compound useful in the production of an antigen conjugate compound for producing relatively large titers of antibodies specific thereto, which compound comprises a killed strain of B. pertussis mutant strain NRRL B-11, 232 coupled to one reactive NCO site of a diisocyanate-coupling agent leaving the other reactive NCO site adapted to be coupled to another antigen.

2. The compound of claim 1 wherein the diisocyanate is toluene-2,4-diisocyanate.

3. The compound of claim 1 wherein the killed strain is coupled to the 4-carbon position of the diisocyanate NCO site.

4. The compound of claim 1 wherein the diisocyanate is toluene-2,4-diisocyanate, and the killed strain is coupled to the 4-carbon position of the reactive NCO site.