Studies on the Toxicity and Antiviral Activity of Various Polynucleotides

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Abstract
Various polynucleotides were examined for antiviral activity and toxicity in mice. Although the antiviral potency of the various interferon inducers varied, there was a concomitant variation in toxicity. This was reflected by a fivefold range in therapeutic ratio for the various compounds. In addition, no polynucleotide proved to be a more potent interferon inducer than polyinosinic·polycytidylic acid [(poly rI)·(poly rC)]. Our results suggest that there may be intrinsic limitations to the development of polynucleotide interferon inducers having improved therapeutic ratios.