Chemically Defined Vaccine Stabilizer for Freeze-Drying

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current stabilizer compositions in the bio-pharmaceutical industry, particularly for freeze-drying, often rely on ill-defined, high molecular weight compounds from animal or microbial origins, which can introduce contamination risks, are not heat sterilizable, and exhibit lot-to-lot variation, leading to unpredictable product quality and safety concerns.

Innovation Solution

A stabilizer composition comprising chemically defined amino acids and sugars, which are serum-free, protein-free, and animal compound-free, providing predictable and controllable stabilization of biological molecules and microorganisms without the need for high molecular weight compounds, and are non-toxic and heat sterilizable.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If stabilizer compositions use high molecular weight compounds from animal or microbial origins, then stabilizing effect is improved, but contamination risk and safety concerns increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestabilizing effectVSAvoidcontamination risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the harmful components (animal proteins, microbial contaminants) from the stabilizer composition while retaining the essential stabilizing function through chemically defined amino acids and sugars. This extraction principle resolves the contradiction by removing the source of contamination risk while preserving the stabilizing effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the chemical definition and molecular weight parameters of the stabilizer components. Instead of using ill-defined high molecular weight compounds, it employs chemically defined amino acids and sugars with specific molecular weights, thereby maintaining stabilizing efficacy while eliminating contamination risks associated with undefined compositions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If stabilizer compositions use compounds from animal origin, then stabilizing effect is improved, but heat sterilization capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestabilizing effectVSAvoidheat sterilization capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses simple, stable chemical compounds (amino acids and sugars) that can be readily sterilized by heat, replacing complex animal-derived stabilizers that cannot withstand heat sterilization. These chemically defined components are robust enough to endure sterilization processes while maintaining their stabilizing function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If stabilizer compositions use compounds from animal or microbial origins, then stabilizing effect is improved, but product quality consistency deteriorates due to lot-to-lot variation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestabilizing effectVSAvoidproduct quality consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the compositional parameters from ill-defined natural products to chemically defined amino acids and sugars with precise molecular structures. This parameter change eliminates lot-to-lot variation inherent in animal and microbial-derived compounds, ensuring consistent product quality while maintaining stabilizing efficacy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs chemically homogeneous amino acids and sugars with defined structures, replacing heterogeneous animal and microbial compounds. This homogeneity ensures consistent stabilizing performance across different production batches, resolving the quality consistency issue.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

4Reliability

If stabilizer compositions use high molecular weight compounds, then stabilizing effect is improved, but complexity of composition increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestabilizing effectVSAvoidcomposition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the complex high molecular weight stabilizer compounds into simpler building blocks - chemically defined amino acids and sugars. These smaller, well-defined molecular units collectively provide the stabilizing effect without the complexity and undefined composition of high molecular weight compounds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This composition effectively stabilizes biological molecules and microorganisms against physical and chemical influences, maintaining quality and quantity during freeze-drying, storage, and reconstitution, while ensuring product safety and consistency.

Implementation Method 1

a stabiliser composition comprising an amino acid, and a sugar wherein all compounds are chemically defined

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical stabilization:

Implementation Method 2

In freeze-drying a sample containing a biologically or pharmaceutically active molecule, a micro-organism, a cell, or a tissue is first frozen, and than dried under vacuum

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFreeze-drying: Freeze Drying

Implementation Method 3

a sample containing a biologically or pharmaceutically active molecule, a micro-organism, a cell, or a tissue is first frozen, and than dried under vacuum

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSublimation: Sublimation

Data Source

PatentUS8778868B2Chemically defined vaccine stabiliser
Publication Date: 2014.07.15 INTERVET INT BV

AI summary

The present invention relates to a stabilizer composition comprising an amino acid, and a sugar wherein all compounds are chemically defined; to a vaccine composition comprising such a stabilizer composition and a biological molecule and/or a micro-organism; to a method for preparing a pharmaceutical composition comprising admixing such a stabilizer composition with a biological molecule and/or a micro-organism; to the use of such a stabilizer composition, and of vaccines prepared therewith.