PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for producing an N-terminal derivative of a protein in which a polysaccharide, preferably having at least terminal sialic acid units and preferably essentially comprising only sialic acid units, is reacted at an N-terminus of a protein or a peptide under controlled conditions to produce the N-terminal derivative.SOLUTION: A method for producing a purified N-terminal derivative of a protein or a peptide comprises: (i) reacting a polysaccharide with an amine group of an N-terminus of the protein or the peptide in aqueous acidic solution to produce an N-terminal derivative; and (ii) purifying the resultant N-terminal derivative in an aqueous solution of a higher pH than in step (i).【課題】好ましくは少なくとも末端にシアル酸ユニットを有し、且つ好ましくは本質的にシアル酸ユニットのみから成るポリサッカライドが、制御条件下でタンパク質又はペプチドのN末端で反応し、N末端誘導体を生成する、タンパク質のN末端誘導体を製造する方法の提供。【解決手段】(i)酸性の水溶液中でタンパク質又はペプチドのN末端のアミン基でポリサッカライドを反応させ、N末端誘導体を生成し、(ii)工程(i)よりも高いpHの水溶液中で、得られたN末端誘導体を精製する、タンパク質又はペプチドの精製N末端誘導体を製造する方法。【選択図】なし