PATENT ABSTRACTS 129

This invention relates to a process for the preparation of a concentrate containing sterol compounds of natural origin, which concen- trate is suitable as a starting material for the transformation of sterol compounds by fermentation, which comprises the steps of: (a) transesterifying distillation residues from the processing of natural fats and/or oils with a lower alcohol; and (b) subjecting the product of step (a) to molecular distillation to produce a main fraction having a content of up to about 50 percent by weight ofsterol compounds. The invention also relates to sterol concentrates produced thereby and their transformation to valuable secondary

products. 4374765

M A M M A L I A N COLLAGENASE INHIBITORS

William H. McGregor, assigned to Ameri- can Home Products Corporation

The polypeptides R-GIy-L-Cys-Gly-L-GIu- L-GIu-NH2 or a pharmaceutically accepta- ble salt thereof act as collagenase inhibitors useful in the treatment of disease involving excessive tissue destruction by collagenase.

4374127

HERPES SUB UNIT VACCINE

Vivian Larson, Dale E. Lehman, assigned to M e r c k & C o lnc

Herpes virus subunit antigens suitable for vaccine use are prepared by (l) treating virus-infected cells with a surfactant and varying concentrations of salt to extract and solubilize viral-directed glycoproteins. (2) fractionating the solubilized material by chromatographic procedures to enrich the viral-directed glycoproteins and to remove unwanted proteins and nucleic acids, and (3) optionally treating the subunit antigens with deoxyribonuclease and formaldehyde to assure safety.

4373023

PROCESS FOR NEUTRALIZING HEPARIN

Robert S. Langer, Robert Linhardt, Charles Cooney, Parrish M. Galliher, Margaret M. F lanagan, Michael Klein, assigned to Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Blood containing heparin and treated extra- corporeally is contacted with immobilized heparinase prior to being reintroduced into the patient.

4372945

ANTIGEN COMPOUNDS

Vilas Likhite

Antigens are provided which induce rela- tively large titers of antibodies. These anti- gens, which may comprise certain strains of microorganisms or a plant extract, can be conjugated to a second antigen by means of an organic coupling agent. The primary antigens of the invention, when chemically coupled to a secondary antigen function as immunostimulant adjuvants. When tumor cells are the secondary antigens, a means for immunotherapeutic treatment of cancer is provided.

4372941

NOVEL RADIOASSAY PROCEDURE

James Ryan

A rapid, efficient and accurate method is provided for quantitatively assaying for an enzyme, such as angiotensin converting enzyme, an aminopeptidase, a carboxypep- tidase, or trypsin, which catalyzes hydrolysis of a radiolabelled substrate to produce a radiolabelled remnant product preferentially soluble in a water-immiscible organic solvent,