Patent attributes
A concentrated, immunoglobulin composition for treating subjects vaccinated against or infected with a pathogenic microorganism, is made by (a) selecting a population of individuals previously vaccinated against antigens associated with the pathogenic microorganism; (b) identifying very high titer individuals by determining the level of specific antibodies immunoreactive with the pathogenic microorganism in the blood of the individuals; (c) combining blood from the very high titer individuals; and (d) purifying and/or concentrating the product of step (c). A concentrated immunoglobulin composition can include specific antibodies immunoreactive with a pathogenic microorganism, wherein the titer of specific antibodies is at least 5 times higher than the average titer of specific antibodies of a population of individuals previously vaccinated against antigens associated with the pathogenic microorganism. The composition has a relatively high protein concentration and a low percentage of protein aggregates. The pathogenic microorganism is preferably smallpox virus or vaccinia virus.
