Abstract: A method of producing a pharmaceutical preparation comprising fibronectin and fibrinogen is disclosed. The method involves admixing into a starting solution of fibrinogen and fibronectin, in a single step, a precipitating composition comprising a polyalkylene glycol and at least one of glycine and &bgr;-alanine which forms a precipitate. Next, the precipitate is collected and a pharmaceutical preparation is prepared from the precipitate. The pharmaceutical preparation has a fibronectin:fibrinogen ratio from about 0.02 to about 0.2.

Abstract: The invention relates to fibrin/fibrinogen binding conjugate comprising a fibrin/fibrinogen binding moiety, a substance capturing moiety capable of reversibly binding to a pharmaceutically active substance, and a pharmaceutically active substance, wherein the fibrin/fibrinogen binding moiety is bound to the substance capturing moiety, a kit for forming a depot for a pharmaceutically active substance and a method for producing a depot for a pharmaceutically active substance.

Abstract: A method of xenotransplanting organs, tissues, cells or non-viable components which reduces or prevents antibody-mediated rejections, including hyperacute rejection, is provided wherein transgenic animals are produced that express at least one enzyme which masks or reduces the level of the antigenic Gal.alpha.(1,3)Gal or gal epitope, and at least one complement inhibitor such as CD59, DAF and/or MCP. The transgenic animals which express both a gal epitope-reducing enzyme and a complement inhibitor will have masked or reduced levels of the gal epitope and will be much less likely to produce an antibody-mediated rejection following transplantation, and the expression of the complement inhibitor will also suppress complement activation and reduce even further a severe immune reaction following the transplantation of donor organs, tissue, cells or non-viable components from the transgenic animals so produced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of transgenic pigs for the production of human hemoglobin. The transgenic pigs of the invention may be used as an efficient and economical source of cell-free human hemoglobin that may be used for transfusions and other medical applications in humans.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of transgenic pigs for the production of human hemoglobin. The transgenic pigs of the invention may be used as an efficient and economical source of cell-free human hemoglobin that may be used for transfusions and other medical applications in humans. Also disclosed are the methods of purifying human hemoglobin from pig red cell lysate, and plasmids contained pig and human nucleic acid sequences for the production of transgenic pigs expressing human globin DNA sequences.

Abstract: A solution containing a nonpolymeric epoxy compound for cross linking biological tissues and bioprosthetic materials prepared thereby. The nonpolymeric epoxy compound has the general structural formula:R.sub.1 --CH.sub.2 --O--X--O--CH.sub.2 --R.sub.2wherein, X is a straight chain aliphatic hydrocarbon having at least four (4) and no more than five (5) carbon atoms bonded directly to one another, said straight chain aliphatic hydrocarbon being devoid of side branches and having terminal carbon atoms at either end thereof, the terminal carbon atoms at the ends of said straight chain aliphatic hydrocarbon being bonded to the oxygen atoms shown in the foregoing general formula, wherein at least one of the terminal groups R.sub.1, or R.sub.2 is an epoxy group and the other of said terminal groups R.sub.1 or R.sub.2 is either a) an epoxy group, or b) an aldehyde group. One preferred crosslinking agent of the above general formula is 1,4, butanediol diglycidyl ether.

Abstract: A method for preparing a purified and stable activated human Factor VIII composition is disclosed. A purified and stable activated human Factor VIII composition having a specific activity of at least 100,000 units per mg protein, or a potency of at least 15,000 units per ml is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for preparing a fibrinogen-containing composition derived from human plasma by separating a cryoprecipitate from the plasma, suspending the cryoprecipitate in a salt-containing buffer, treating the supernatant by affinity-chromatography on a lysine-bound solid matrix to allow plasminogen to adsorb thereon, collecting a fraction containing less than 10 .mu.g/ml plasminogen, and treating the fraction to reduce viral activity. The fibrinogen-containing composition recovered from this fraction is advantageous because it contains such a low amount of plasminogen that no addition of fibrinolysis inhibitor is needed.

Abstract: A composition which, upon reacting with thrombin, functions as a fibrin sealant and is characterized as being free of detectable levels of lipid enveloped virus activity, free of prothrombin complex and active thrombin, and contains no protease inhibitors or other non-human proteins. Also, described is a method for producing the composition.

Abstract: Stabilized and activated Factor VIII is used as a therapeutic agent to treat patients with a Factor VIII deficiency. This includes hemophilia A patients as well as patients with Factor VIII inhibitors which block the hemostatic activity of Factor VIII. The stabilized and activated Factor VIII is also prepared in a therapeutic composition with a therapeutically acceptable adjuvant.

Abstract: The invention is a flow-through bioreactor for the retention and culture of cells in perfused media. The bioreactor is a generally rectangular vessel with inlet and outlet ports in the lid allowing for media flow along the longitudinal axis of the vessel. The inner surface of the bottom wall of the bioreactor has a plurality of generally rectangular grooves having a length, a depth, and a width. The grooves are positioned in the bottom wall such that their length is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vessel, allowing media flow across the width of the grooves. Cells settle into the grooves, where they proliferate and differentiate, without entering the bulk flow of media through the vessel, thus avoiding loss of cells due to media flow. The preferred grooves have a width to depth ratio of about 1:1 or 2:1. The preferred width of the grooves is about 50 .mu.m to about 5,000 .mu.m, and the preferred depth is about 50 .mu.m to about 5,000 .mu.m.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a complex of an antigen component and the corresponding antibody component in a pharmacologically acceptable carrier. The apparatus comprises a housing chamber for containing paramagnetic particles and a platform against which the housing chamber is releasably retained. The platform contains one or more magnets located adjacent to the housing chamber when the housing chamber is positioned on the platform. The platform is secured to a support which allows the platform, and thus the housing chamber, to be rotated between a vertical and a horizontal position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of binding biologically active organic ligands to hydroxyl groups of polymeric carriers. The method involves bringing 4-fluorobenzenesulfonyl Chloride into reactive contact with the hydroxyl groups of polymeric carriers in such a manner to form sulfonate groups in place of the hydroxyl groups. The ligand is then brought into reactive contact with the hydroxyl groups of polymeric carriers to replace the sulfonate groups reacted with the organic ligand. The polymeric carrier containing the bound ligand can be used to isolate a biologically active material from a heterogeneous solution.