University of California

Immunology, Inc., a California Corporation

Alan S Levin

Lynn E Spitler

Vera K Byers

Daniel P Stites

H Hugh Fudenberg

The present invention provides novel methods for the treatment of retroviral infection, particularly HIV disease. According to the present invention, human HIV infected hosts were selected who had been on a stable dose of an anti-retroviral agent, such as zidovudine, for up to two years prior to administration of the ribosomal inhibiting protein trichosanthin, and who had failed anti-retroviral therapy, as manifest by decrease in CD4+ cells on at least two serial measurements, or loss of over 50 CD4+ cells/mm.sup.3 /year. These patients remained on the same dose of anti-retroviral agent (AZT or ddI) and received trichosanthin, 1.2 mg weekly, then monthly. A significant number of patients demonstrated improved CD4+ cell counts following administration of trichosanthin as compared to CD4+ cell counts prior to adminstration of the drug.

Methods for the treatment of retroviral infections

A method of treating human patients suffering from immune deficiency diseases by extracting a 'transfer factor' from leucocytes obtained from healthy donors who exhibit immune response to said diseases and injecting said 'transfer factor' into said diseased patients to thereby suppress disease symptoms.

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San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Alan S Levin