Interferons — Expanding Therapeutic Roles

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Abstract
Just over a decade ago, interferon alfa-2 produced by recombinant-DNA technology was introduced into clinical trials. An American Cancer Society initiative, which had confirmed the antitumor activity of leukocyte interferon laboriously produced from units of donated blood, and the subsequent venture-capital investment by the infant biotechnology industry generated substantial interest among physicians and in the lay press. The degree of media attention led to expectations among the public, investors, and the medical community that this family of human proteins with broad antiviral activity and modulatory effects on pleiotropic cells might be wonder drugs like penicillin. When initial clinical trials of . . .