VERFAHREN ZUR HERSTELLUNG VON IMMUNOGLOBULINDERIVATEN

Native immunoglobulin is treated, for the selective cleavage of the disulphide bonds between chains, with a sulphite ion in the presence, as oxidising agent, of a compound which is capable of forming a persulphate ion in water. In contrast to the use of oxidising agents which are generally known per se and which give agglutinated immunoglobulin derivatives of increased anticomplementary activity, the immunoglobulin derivatives obtained by this process have reduced anticomplementary activity, can be intravenously injected and are reconverted, within the body of the patient and without side effects, into the original immunoglobulin. By contrast with the known use of alkali metal tetrathionates, iodosobenzoic acid and alkali metal salts thereof, a copper(II) ion or molecular oxygen, the oxidising agents which can be used are industrially prepared, readily available and inexpensive compounds which lead, in a simple manner, to an end product of high purity which can be used without causing any unwanted side effects.