PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Horowitz, Bernard
TI  - Human Interferon—Properties, Clinical Application, and Production
DP  - 1981 Sep 01
TA  - PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology
PG  - 223--226
VI  - 35
IP  - 5
4099  - http://journal.pda.org/content/35/5/223.short
4100  - http://journal.pda.org/content/35/5/223.full
SO  - PDA J Pharm Sci Technol1981 Sep 01; 35
AB  - Interferon synthesis is stimulated by a variety of factors including exposure to virus, antigen, or antibody and various mitogens. Three classes of interferon have been described and multiple subtypes identified. The use of interferon in clinical trials for the treatment of cancer and viral infections has been limited by the relatively low quantities of interferon available. Nonetheless, preliminary evidence suggests that human interferon has potent pharmacologic activity against at least some forms of cancer and viral infection. Extended clinical evaluation will be made possible by newly developed production processes, including the application of large scale biosynthesis and separation methodologies to interferon produced by human cells and the incorporation of human genes for interferons into simple, unicellular organisms.