Protein drugs interferon

Alick Isaacs (1921-1967) and Jean Lindenmann (1924- ) publish their pioneering report on the drug interferon, a protein produced by interaction between a virus and an infected cell that can interfere with the multiplication of viruses. 

For instance, on the early consideration of these protein drugs see William Castle to A. N. Richards, 14 May 1958, Richards Papers, box 16, folder 24 Anon., 8 June 1961, Report of Merck Institute Scientific Advisors Meeting, Ibid., box 21, folder 11 Anon., 23 December 1963, Report of Merck Institute Scientific Advisors, Meeting of October 27, 28 and 29, Ibid., box 16, folder 50. On erythropoietin, interferon, human insulin, and the nature of recent biologist-industrialist interactions see, e.g., A. Kornberg, The Golden Helix Inside Biotech Ventures (Sausalito, 1995). 

Lindenmann, J., and Schleuning, W. D., eds. (1999). Interferon The Dawn of Recombinant Protein Drugs. New York Springe r-Verlag. 

In this section, the pharmacokinetics of clinically important peptide/protein drugs, such as insulin, EPO, G-CSF, interferon, growth hormone, leuprolide, desmopressin, and antibodies, are described in relation to their administration routes and formulations (i.e., dosage forms). 

Some rDNA-derived pharmaceuticals, particularly the cytokines (e.g., the interferons, interleukin-2, and colony-stimulating factors), require human serum albumin in their formulation to prevent adhesion of the protein drug to the glass surface of the vial, which results in loss of protein (51,52,53). The amount of... 

CoUagen matrix [74,75] Human serum albumin (HSA) [74], interferon (IFN) [75] Minipellet easUy injected by conventional injection ControUed release of protein drugs... 

A quite different approach to antiviral drugs is to seek small molecules which can stimulate the formation of interferon in the host. Interferon is a small protein whose production in the human body is normally stimulated by the presence of a virus, and which causes the host cell to produce an antiviral protein. Human interferon is non-toxic to man and has a broad spectrum of antiviral activity. Small, and inadequate supplies can be obtained from the pooled leucocytes of blood banks. Interferon from other mammals is ineffective in man. Although polynucleotides and some other... 

As mentioned in Section 11.2, a special class of proteinaceous targeting constructs are those in which a therapeutic protein is used as the active drug substance. In such a preparation, the protein is redirected to the target tissue by the attachment of site-directing ligands such as those discussed in Section 11.3. For instance, interferon beta (IFN- 3) can be redirected to the liver by enz5matic desialylation in a procedure similar to that described earlier for fetuin (Section 11.3.1). The resultant asialo-IFN- 3 was found to have an in vivo anti-viral effect when tested in a hepatitis B model in athymic nude mice [54]. 

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