title: Evaluation of a recombinant human gelatin as a substitute for a hydrolyzed porcine gelatin in a refrigerator-stable Oka/Merck live varicella vaccine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The labile nature of live, attenuated varicella-zoster virus (Oka/Merck) requires robust stabilization during virus bulk preparation and vaccine manufacturing in order to preserve potency through storage and administration. One stabilizing ingredient used in a varicella-zoster virus (VZV) vaccine is hydrolyzed porcine gelatin which represents the major protein/peptide-based excipient in the vaccine formulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this comparative study, a recombinant human gelatin fragment (8.5 kD) was assessed as a potential replacement for hydrolyzed porcine gelatin in an experimental live, attenuated VZV (Oka/Merck) vaccine. VZV (Oka/Merck) was harvested in two formulations prepared with either a hydrolyzed porcine gelatin or a recombinant human gelatin. Moreover, the viral stability in the experimental VZV (Oka/Merck) vaccines was evaluated under accelerated and real-time conditions in a comparative study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The stabilizing effect of recombinant human gelatin on VZV (Oka/Merck) potency change during vaccine lyophilization was similar to the experimental vaccine containing porcine-derived gelatin. Vaccine viral potency changes were comparable in stabilized VZV (Oka/Merck) formulations containing either hydrolyzed porcine gelatin or recombinant human gelatin. No statistically significant difference in potency stability was observed between the vaccine formulations stored at any of the temperatures tested.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The recombinant human gelatin demonstrated similar ability to stabilize the live attenuated VZV (Oka/Merck) in an experimental, refrigerator-stable varicella vaccine when compared to the vaccine preparation formulated with hydrolyzed porcine gelatin used in currently marketed varicella vaccine.
authors.affiliation: Vaccine Clinical Research, Merck Research Laboratories, P,O, Box 1000, UG3CD28, North Wales, PA 19454, USA. vladimir_liska@merck.com
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Liska
authors.forename: Stacey A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Bigert
authors.forename: Philip S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Carl J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Burke