Abstract: A method of removing bacterial endotoxin from a pharmaceutical process solution is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises treating the solution with a surfactant effective to dissociate the endotoxin from a pharmaceutical drug or vaccine substance in the solution, and then filtering the solution through a molecular cut-off filter having a pore size effective to retain the pharmaceutical drug or vaccine substance but allow the dissociated bacterial endotoxin to pass therethrough.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polypeptide comprising tetanus toxin fragment C, or a fragment thereof, fused to the pre-S1 region of hepatitis B virus (HBV), or a fragment thereof, and/or the pre-S2 region of HBV or a fragment thereof. It also provides vaccine compositions comprising the polypeptide of the invention.

Abstract: A needleless injector drug capsule assembly comprising a container, a housing therefor, a piston, and resilient seals to permit filling and sealing thereafter to maintain sterility of the contents. A seal carrier holds a seal through which filling of the capsule is carried out via its outlet orifice, and after filling the seal carrier is closed off, for example by a plug or by heat sealing.

Abstract: A process for preparing an enantiomerically-enriched form of threo-ritalinic acid, which comprises resolving a mixture of enantiomers of a salt of the acid, said salt being formed with an achiral acid or base, using a chiral resolving agent. The resolved salt can be esterified, to give the therapeutic agent d-threo-methylphenidate.

Abstract: A method for preventing or reducing bacterial contamination of a viral vaccine is disclosed. The method comprises adding an effective preserving amount of a polybiguanide-containing preservative composition to a solution containing vaccine virus or virus antigen. The method is particularly useful in preventing or reducing bacterial contamination of process solutions involved in the manufacture of influenza vaccines.

Abstract: A needleless injector drug capsule assembly comprising a container, housing therefor, a piston, and resilient seals to permit filling and sealing thereafter to maintain sterility of the contents.

Abstract: The invention relates to DNA constructs encoding a safe, selectable marker, other than an antibiotic resistance marker, vectors and/or cells including said constructs; and vaccines based on said constructs for use in animals and particularly humans. The safe, selectable marker being a marker that confers resistance to an agent, other than an antibiotic, which would otherwise deleteriously affect the growth of a cell in which said construct was placed.

Abstract: A process for preparing substantially single enantiomer d-threo-methylphenidate, proceeds by means of a classical salt resolution using (-)-menthoxyacetic acid.

Abstract: A method of treating a subject that is undergoing methylphenidate therapy and concomitant therapy with another drug undergoes or interferes with P.sub.450 metabolism, wherein the methylphenidate is d-threo-methylphenidate.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to compounds of the formula Y.sup.1 Y.sup.2 N--(CH.sub.2).sub.4 --CH.dbd.C(Ph)--X wherein Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 are independently H or a removable blocking group, or Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 together are a removable divalent blocking group; and X is COOCH.sub.3 or a group convertible thereto. Such a compound may be cyclised, by Michael addition, to give methylphenidate, if necessary after removing blocking group(s) and converting X to COOCH.sub.3. The subject invention also pertains to methods for preparing compounds of the invention.

Abstract: An essentially water-insoluble compound of bismuth and polyacrylic acid disperses well in the bowel and forms a good mucoadhesive covering of the bowel wall. Thus in patients with inflammatory bowel disease the bismuth is held in intimate contact to the inflamed tissue of the bowel. Two processes are provided for preparing said water-insoluble compounds.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a sustained-release formulation of d-threo-methylphenidate (dtmp). The subject invention also pertains to methods for treating disorders using a sustained-release formulation comprising d-threo-methylphenidate.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition comprises a solution or suspension of a biological agent in a diluent comprising D.sub.2 O, which solution or suspension contains sufficient amounts of a sugar, phosphate, glutamic acid or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof and, optionally, a non-toxic protein, a peptone or a mixture of two or more amino acids besides glutamic acid to enhance the stability of the agent. Typically, the composition is a suspension of a live attenuated poliovirus or an inactivated poliovirus of each of poliovirus types 1, 2 and 3. Preferably the solution or suspension contains stabilising amounts of sucrose, KH.sub.2 PO.sub.4, K.sub.2 HPO.sub.4, L-glutamic acid or sodium glutamate and human serum albumin (SPGA).

Abstract: A method of treating a subject that is undergoing methylphenidate therapy and concomitant therapy with another drug undergoes or interferes with P.sub.450 metabolism, wherein the methylphenidate is d-threo-methylphenidate.