Patent ID: 7803583
Filing Date: 2010-09-28
Classification: A61K,A61P,C08B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A process for measuring the degree of polymerisation of a capsular saccharide, wherein: (a) the saccharide comprises sialic acid monosaccharide subunits that are linked α2→9; (b) the saccharide has a terminal sialic acid monosaccharide subunit; and (c) the process comprises the steps of: (i) reducing the terminal sialic acid monosaccharide subunit to give a reduced sialic acid monosaccharide subunit; (ii) chemically hydrolysing the saccharide to give a hydrolysate containing monosaccharide subunits, wherein the hydrolysis proceeds to completion to yield only monosaccharide subunits; (iii) determining the ratio of total sialic acid to reduced sialic acid in the hydrolysate.