Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of production of a hydrazide modified sugar comprising a step of reacting a sugar with a hydrazide in a reaction solvent at a pH of between 3 and 5.5, wherein the solvent comprises an aqueous based solvent and an optional polar organic co-solvent. A further aspect of the invention relates to a method of production of a polysaccharide epitope carrier protein conjugate comprising the steps of: (a) reacting a polysaccharide epitope with a hydrazide to form a hydrazide modified polysaccharide epitope; (b) reacting the hydrazide modified polysaccharide epitope with a linker that has been pre-coupled to a carrier protein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel chemical process for the covalent conjugation of disulphide bridge cyclised peptides to immunogenic carrier molecules by thio-ether linkages to form vaccine immunogens. In particular, the novel chemistry involves reacting a thiolated carrier with a cyclic peptide containing a disulphide bridge, which cylcic peptide (herein a disulphide bridge cyclised peptide) has attached to it, usually via a linker, a reactive group capable for forming thio-ether bonds with the carrier. The invention further related to activated peptide intermediates of the process, medicaments produced by the process, pharmaceutical compositions containing the medicaments, and the use of the pharmaceutical compositions in medicine. The process of the present invention is particularly useful for the preparation of highly pure immunogens for vaccines, comprising disulphide bridge cyclised peptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the provision of novel medicaments for the treatment, prevention or amelioration of allergic disease. In particular, the novel medicaments are epitopes or mimotopes derived from the C&egr;3 or C&egr;4 domains of IgE. These novel regions may be the target for both passive and active immunoprophylaxis or immunotherapy. The invention further relates to methods for production of the medicaments, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in medicine. Also forming an aspect of the present invention are ligands, especially monoclonal antibodies, which are capable of binding the IgE regions of the present invention, and their use in medicine as passive immunotherapy or immunoprophylaxis.