Merck + Co., Inc.

Alfred A Tytell

George P Lampson

Arthur K Field

Maurice R Hilleman

Edgar M Scattergood

Eugene B Buynak

Alexander U Bertland, Ii

A Kirk Field

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.

Pharmaceutical composition comprising modified

The invention provides an improved process for the growth of lymphoblastoid cells in a medium supplemented with human albumin. The invention further provides for the production of interferon by viral infection of these lymphoblastoid cells in a medium also supplemented with human albumin. This invention eliminates the necessity for adding animal proteins.

Replacement of animal serum proteins by human albumin for growth and

Polynucleotides which are multistranded are active as inducers of interferon production in living animal cells. They may be:

Polynucleotides active as inducers of interferon production in living

Hepatitis B antigen useful as vaccine is prepared from clarified plasma of hepatitis B donors by treating with pepsin at a pH wherein pepsin is enzymatically active, treating with urea, and optionally treating with formaldehyde.

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Lansdale, PA, United States of America

Alfred A Tytell