Octanoate-Reduced Human Albumin

Abstract

The invention relates to the improvement of the transport properties of albumin which is produced on an industrial scale, e.g. via the Cohn process or by means of recombinant processes, and is mixed, during the production process, with substances that saturate the binding points on the albumin and thus affect the binding properties and transport properties of the final product. A special embodiment of the invention relates to pasteurized and then octanoate-reduced human albumin for therapeutic use, especially in a detoxification treatment of human plasma, e.g. for the intravenous treatment of acute or chronic liver diseases, and as a dialysate in extracorporeal liver dialysis with albumin in the molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS) or in single-pass dialysis.

1 .- 12 . (canceled) 
   
   
       13 . An albumin preparation, wherein more than about 50% of substances bound to the albumin are removed during production of the albumin preparation, and wherein the binding capacity of the albumin preparation is improved compared to an albumin preparation in which said more than about 50% of substances are not removed during production. 
   
   
       14 . A method for stabilizing an albumin preparation according to  claim 13 , comprising freeze-drying the albumin preparation. 
   
   
       15 . An albumin preparation according to  claim 13 , wherein the albumin preparation is freeze-dried. 
   
   
       16 . The albumin preparation of  claim 13 , wherein the pharmaceutical activity of the preparation depends on the binding of other substances to albumin. 
   
   
       17 . A method for treating a chronic or acute liver disease, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of the preparation of  claim 16 . 
   
   
       18 . A method for improving diuresis in a patient with liver disease, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of the preparation of  claim 16 . 
   
   
       19 . A method for improving diuresis in a patient with ascites, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of the preparation of  claim 16 . 
   
   
       20 . A method for improving diuresis in a patient with nephrotic syndrome, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of the preparation of  claim 16 . 
   
   
       21 . A method for treating bacterial peritonitis, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of the preparation of  claim 16  in combination with one or more antibiotics. 
   
   
       22 . A method for detoxifying human plasma, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of the preparation of  claim 16 . 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , comprising detoxification of a pharmacological substance. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , comprising detoxification of a metabolite. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the preparation is administered intravenously. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered during extracorporeal plasma dialysis. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the extracorporeal plasma dialysis is carried out as MARS (Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System) or as “single-pass” dialysis. 
   
   
       28 . An albumin preparation, wherein, during the production process, substances blocking binding sites of albumin are added and more than about 50% of said substances are subsequently removed, and wherein the binding capacity of the albumin preparation is improved compared to an albumin preparation in which said substances blocking binding sites are added but the more than about 50% of said substances are not subsequently removed. 
   
   
       29 . The albumin preparation of  claim 28 , wherein the substances blocking binding sites are pasteurization stabilizers. 
   
   
       30 . The albumin preparation of  claim 29 , wherein the pasteurization stabilizers are octanoate and/or N-acetyl-tryptophan. 
   
   
       31 . The albumin preparation of  claim 28 , wherein the substances blocking binding sites are substances that reduce polymer formation of albumin. 
   
   
       32 . The albumin preparation of  claim 31 , wherein the substances that reduce polymer formation of albumin comprise octanoate. 
   
   
       33 . The albumin preparation of  claim 28 , wherein the pharmaceutical activity of the preparation depends on the binding of other substances to albumin. 
   
   
       34 . A method for detoxifying human plasma, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of the preparation of  claim 33 .