Merck + Co., Inc.

George P Lampson

Alfred A Tytell

Alexander U Bertland, Ii

Maurice R Hilleman

Arthur K Field

Eugene B Buynak

A Kirk Field

A herpes simplex type I subunit vaccine is prepared from infected chick embryo cells by ultra extraction of the virus while the infected cells are still attached to the growth surface.

Herpes simplex type I subunit vaccine

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

A herpes simplex type 1 subunit vaccine is prepared from infected chick embryo cells by urea-extraction of the virus while the infected cells are still attached to the growth surface.

Herpes simplex type 1 subunit vaccine

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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Hatfield, PA, United States of America

George P Lampson