Urate oxidase free of aggregates larger than octamers, for preparation of non-immunogenic polymer conjugates

摘要

Disclosed herein is a naturally occurring or recombinant protein, especially a purified mutein of porcine urate oxidase (uricase), that is essentially free of large aggregates can be rendered substantially non-immunogenic by conjugation with a sufficiently small number of strands of polymer such that the bioactivity of the protein is essentially retained in the conjugate. Such conjugates are unusually well suited for treatment of chronic conditions because they are less likely to induce the formation of antibodies and/or accelerated clearance than are similar conjugates prepared from protein preparations containing traces of large aggregates.