A naturally occurring or recombinant protein, especially a mutein of
porcine urate oxidase (uricase), that is essentially free of large
aggregates can be rendered substantially non-immunogenic by conjugation
with a sufficiently small number of strands of polymer such that the
bioactivity of the protein is essentially retained in the conjugate. Such
conjugates are unusually well suited for treatment of chronic conditions
because they are less likely to induce the formation of antibodies and/or
accelerated clearance than are similar conjugates prepared from protein
preparations containing traces of large aggregates.
