Large-scale gel filtration chromatography for the production of a solvent/detergent-treated high-purity factor VIII concentrate.

To produce a tri(n-butyl)phosphate/sodium-cholate-treated intermediate-purity factor VIII (FVIII) concentrate with a specific activity of about 1 IU/mg, we used a simple gel filtration step with Sephadex G25 to remove the solvent/detergent reagents from the final product. By exchanging the Sephadex G25 gel for a new high-resolution gel (Sephacryl S400 HR), we obtained a high-purity FVIII concentrate, by simultaneous elimination of about 98% of the extraneous proteins and removal of the solvent/detergent reagents, without reducing the FVIII:c yield and without altering the production scheme. With different protein analysis techniques we analysed the resulting FVIII concentrate and, comparing it to the formerly produced intermediate-purity FVIII concentrate, demonstrated improved purity.