Merck + Co., Inc.

A Kirk Field

George P Lampson

Alfred A Tytell

A complex of polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid (poly I:C) with poly-L-lysine hydrobromide ([lysine.HBr].sub.n) having a defined molecular weight is prepared which is about 5-15 times as resistant to hydrolysis by pancreatic ribonuclease as the parent poly I:C. A pharmaceutical solution, containing a relatively high concentration of the complex, prepared as described, induces significant antiviral levels of serum interferon in monkeys under conditions in which poly I:C itself induces little or no interferon. An important feature of this invention is that the product is a soluble material requiring no special solubilizing agent, thereby facilitating the preparation of solutions having the desired concentration. The product will hereinafter be designated as poly I:C/poly-L-lysine.

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North Wales, PA, United States of America

A Kirk Field