HYALURONIDASE, ISOLATION AND PHARMACEUTICAL USE THEREOF, AND PHARMACEUTICAL AND VETERINARY FORMULATIONS CONTAINING IT

The hyaluronidase, which is a hyaluronic acid-specific endo-B-glucuronidase, having a molecular weight of about 28,500 in non-reduced form, is derived from buffalo leeches (that is, leeches of the sub-family Hirudinariinae, such as the species Hirudinaria manillensis or Poecilobdella granulosa)The hyaluronidase, which cleaves hyaluronic acid, but not chondroitin, chondroitin -4- sulphate, chondroitin -6- sulphate or heparin, is considerably more stable at high temperatures and extremes of pH than known leech hyaluronidase. It has a wide range of uses where breakdown of hyaluronic acid is required; of particular interest is in pharmaceutical or veterinary formulations, either as an active agent or a spreading or percutaneous factor. The hyaluronidase is useful for stimulating flow of physiological fluids in the eye (for example, in the treatment of glaucoma).